How to Dial In "How the Gods Kill" by Danzig - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "How the Gods Kill"
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 Danzig III: How the Gods Kill (1992). Danzig III: How the Gods Kill is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Danzig, and the highest to chart at the time of its release in 1992 on Def American Recordings. Wikipedia's account of the album has John Christ using a Stratocaster that Jeff Beck had played for the quieter parts of this song, and Christ says the guitar jumps between a very soft section, a very loud one and an in-between one. No source names the guitar or amp for the loud sections, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Marshall JCM800 stands in for them; for the soft sections, roll the guitar volume back or move to a Strat-style guitar. Set the amp to a medium-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 "How the Gods Kill" Tone
What guitar did Danzig use on "How the Gods Kill"?
The guitar on "How the Gods Kill" (released 1992) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom 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 "How the Gods Kill" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, 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 "How the Gods Kill" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "How the Gods Kill" 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 "How the Gods Kill" by Danzig are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.