How to Dial In "Hard Life to Love" by Black Sabbath - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Hard Life to Love"
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 Eternal Idol (1987). The Eternal Idol is the thirteenth studio album by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in November 1987, through Vertigo Records in the UK, and on 8 December 1987, through Warner Bros. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Black Sabbath's other songs from The Eternal Idol, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-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 "Hard Life to Love" Tone
What guitar did Black Sabbath use on "Hard Life to Love"?
The guitar on "Hard Life to Love" (released 1987) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard 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 "Hard Life to Love" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, 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 "Hard Life to Love" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Hard Life to Love" 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 "Hard Life to Love" by Black Sabbath are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.