NOLA album cover - Down
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Pillars of Eternity" by Down - Guitar Tone Settings

Down·1995·NOLA
The rig

Gear for "Pillars of Eternity"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain6
Bass5.5
Mid6.5
Treble6
Presence5.5
Volume6

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningC♯ Standard(C♯ F♯ B E G♯ C♯)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume10
Recording notes

From NOLA (1995). NOLA is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Down, released on September 19, 1995, by EastWest Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Down's other songs from NOLA, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-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.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Pillars of Eternity" Tone

  1. What guitar did Down use on "Pillars of Eternity"?

    The guitar on "Pillars of Eternity" (released 1995) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s 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.

  2. What amp settings does "Pillars of Eternity" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, 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.

  3. Can I play "Pillars of Eternity" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Pillars of Eternity" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Pillars of Eternity" by Down are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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