How to Dial In "Unbroken Chain" by Grateful Dead - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Unbroken Chain"
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 From the Mars Hotel (1974). From the Mars Hotel is the seventh studio album (eleventh overall) by rock band the Grateful Dead. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for Grateful Dead's other songs from From the Mars Hotel, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the middle pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Unbroken Chain" Tone
What guitar did Grateful Dead use on "Unbroken Chain"?
The guitar on "Unbroken Chain" (released 1974) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: middle pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Unbroken Chain" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, 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.
Can I play "Unbroken Chain" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Unbroken Chain" 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 "Unbroken Chain" by Grateful Dead are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.