How to Dial In "Circle of the Tyrants" by Celtic Frost - Guitar Tone Settings
What Celtic Frost Actually Used on "Circle of the Tyrants"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Marshall JCM800 2203. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Standard tuning. Tom G. Warrior's riffing is deliberately primitive and mid-paced where his contemporaries were getting faster, and the influence runs directly into black metal, death metal and sludge. The defining characteristic is rhythmic rather than tonal: heavy, unhurried downstrokes with an audible gap before each chord, punctuated by his grunt. Recorded 1985 in Berlin on a small budget, and the murk is part of the record — the guitars are thicker and darker than thrash of the same year, with the treble pulled back rather than pushed up. Keep the bass higher and the treble lower than a Slayer setting, and play everything with downstrokes only; alternate picking removes the weight this riff depends on.
Common Questions About the "Circle of the Tyrants" Tone
What guitar did Celtic Frost use on "Circle of the Tyrants"?
Celtic Frost tracked "Circle of the Tyrants" on a Gibson Les Paul Custom (released 1985). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Circle of the Tyrants" need?
On Marshall JCM800 2203: Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 6.5, 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 "Circle of the Tyrants" without a Marshall JCM800 2203?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Circle of the Tyrants" 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.
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Tone references for "Circle of the Tyrants" by Celtic Frost are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.