How to Dial In "Breaking Away" by Avantasia - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Breaking Away"
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 The Metal Opera (2001). The Metal Opera is the first full-length album by Tobias Sammet's German metal project Avantasia, released on 22 January 2001 by AFM Records in Europe and Century Media Records in the US. The album's personnel list credits Henjo Richter with guitars. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP E-II Eclipse through an Engl Powerball II, the rig we use for Avantasia's other songs from The Metal Opera, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in E♭ standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), a half step below standard.
Common Questions About the "Breaking Away" Tone
What guitar did Avantasia use on "Breaking Away"?
The guitar on "Breaking Away" (released 2001) isn't documented; the ESP E-II Eclipse above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Breaking Away" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 6, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 "Breaking Away" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Breaking Away" 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 "Breaking Away" by Avantasia are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.