How to Dial In "Death in Vain" by Exhorder - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Death in Vain"
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 Slaughter in the Vatican (1990). Slaughter in the Vatican is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Exhorder, released in 1990 by R/C Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP LTD EC-1000 through a Marshall JCM800 2203, a high-gain heavy-metal pairing, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in D standard (D G C F A D), a whole step below standard.
Common Questions About the "Death in Vain" Tone
What guitar did Exhorder use on "Death in Vain"?
The guitar on "Death in Vain" (released 1990) isn't documented; the ESP LTD EC-1000 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in D Standard (D G C F A D), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Death in Vain" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. 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 "Death in Vain" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Death in Vain" 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 "Death in Vain" by Exhorder are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.