How to Dial In "Mothers of Men" by Coheed and Cambria - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Mothers of Men"
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 Afterman: Ascension (2012). Their sixth album, recorded between November 2011 and June 2012 at Applehead Recording in Woodstock, New York and produced by the band with Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner, released on October 9, 2012. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Explorer through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, the nearest rig to the one Coheed and Cambria is documented with, stands in. Set the amp to a driven crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Mothers of Men" Tone
What guitar did Coheed and Cambria use on "Mothers of Men"?
The guitar on "Mothers of Men" (released 2012) isn't documented; the Gibson Explorer above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Mothers of Men" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 6, Mid 5.5, 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 "Mothers of Men" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Mothers of Men" 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 "Mothers of Men" by Coheed and Cambria are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.