How to Dial In "Mother Man" by Atheist - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Mother Man"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Unquestionable Presence (1991). Unquestionable Presence is the second studio album by American death metal band Atheist. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP LTD EC-1000 through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, a saturated death-metal pairing, stands in. Set the amp to a saturated high-gain setting and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Mother Man" Tone
What guitar did Atheist use on "Mother Man"?
The guitar on "Mother Man" (released 1991) isn't documented; the ESP LTD EC-1000 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Mother Man" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8.5, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Mother Man" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Mother Man" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Mother Man" by Atheist are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.