How to Dial In "When Skeletons Live" by Coheed and Cambria - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "When Skeletons Live"
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 Year of the Black Rainbow (2010). Year of the Black Rainbow is the fifth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on April 13, 2010 through Columbia. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Explorer through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, the rig we use for Coheed and Cambria's other songs from Year of the Black Rainbow, 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 "When Skeletons Live" Tone
What guitar did Coheed and Cambria use on "When Skeletons Live"?
The guitar on "When Skeletons Live" (released 2010) isn't documented; the Gibson Explorer 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 "When Skeletons Live" 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 "When Skeletons Live" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "When Skeletons Live" 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 "When Skeletons Live" by Coheed and Cambria are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.