How to Dial In "The Sun Fired Blanks" by Dark Tranquillity - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Sun Fired Blanks"
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 Projector (1999). Projector is the fourth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity, released on 10 August 1999 by Century Media Records. The album's personnel list credits Niklas Sundin and Fredrik Johansson with guitars. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP E-II Horizon NT-II through a Peavey 5150, the rig we use for Dark Tranquillity's other songs from Projector, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in C♯ standard (C♯ F♯ B E G♯ C♯), three half steps below standard.
Common Questions About the "The Sun Fired Blanks" Tone
What guitar did Dark Tranquillity use on "The Sun Fired Blanks"?
The guitar on "The Sun Fired Blanks" (released 1999) isn't documented; the ESP E-II Horizon NT-II above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in C♯ Standard (C♯ F♯ B E G♯ C♯), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "The Sun Fired Blanks" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6.5, Volume 5.5. 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 Sun Fired Blanks" 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 Sun Fired Blanks" 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 Sun Fired Blanks" by Dark Tranquillity are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.