How to Dial In "I'm But a Wave to..." by Cynic - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "I'm But a Wave to..."
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 Focus (1993). Focus is the debut studio album by American metal band Cynic, released September 14, 1993, through Roadrunner Records. Wikipedia says Paul Masvidal and Jason Gobel both played Steinberger guitars with Roland MIDI pickups and used ADA amplification on the album, but no source we found names the amp model for this song, so a Steinberger GL2T through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Cynic's other songs from Focus, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "I'm But a Wave to..." Tone
What guitar did Cynic use on "I'm But a Wave to..."?
The guitar on "I'm But a Wave to..." (released 1993) isn't documented; the Steinberger GL2T above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "I'm But a Wave to..." need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6. 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 "I'm But a Wave to..." without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I'm But a Wave to..." 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 "I'm But a Wave to..." by Cynic are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.