How to Dial In "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" by Cult of Luna - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Wreck of S.S. Needle"
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 Mariner (2016). Mariner is a collaborative studio album between the Swedish post-metal band Cult of Luna and the American vocalist Julie Christmas, formerly of the bands Made Out of Babies and Battle of Mice. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through an Orange Rockerverb 100 MkIII, the nearest rig we use for Cult of Luna's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop B (B F♯ B E G♯ C♯).
Common Questions About the "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" Tone
What guitar did Cult of Luna use on "The Wreck of S.S. Needle"?
The guitar on "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" (released 2016) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop B (B F♯ B E G♯ C♯), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 7, Mid 5, Treble 5.5, Presence 5, Volume 7.5. 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 "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" 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 "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" by Cult of Luna are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.