How to Dial In "Blood Tears" by Blind Guardian - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Blood Tears"
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 Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998). Nightfall in Middle-Earth is the sixth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian, released on 28 April 1998 by Virgin. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP LTD EC-1000 through an Engl Fireball 100, the rig we use for Blind Guardian's other songs from Nightfall in Middle-Earth, 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 "Blood Tears" Tone
What guitar did Blind Guardian use on "Blood Tears"?
The guitar on "Blood Tears" (released 1998) isn't documented; the ESP LTD EC-1000 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 "Blood Tears" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6.5, 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 "Blood Tears" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Blood Tears" 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 "Blood Tears" by Blind Guardian are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.