How to Dial In "Breaking into Heaven" by Heaven & Hell - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Breaking into Heaven"
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 The Devil You Know (2009). The Devil You Know is the only studio album by the British-American heavy metal band Heaven & Hell, and the third and final album to feature the lineup of Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass), Ronnie James Dio (vocals), and Vinny Appice (drums), who had recorded Black Sabbath's albums Mob Rules (1981) and Dehumanizer (1992). No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Heaven & Hell's other songs from The Devil You Know, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-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 "Breaking into Heaven" Tone
What guitar did Heaven & Hell use on "Breaking into Heaven"?
The guitar on "Breaking into Heaven" (released 2009) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard 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 "Breaking into Heaven" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 6.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 5.5, Presence 5.5, 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 "Breaking into Heaven" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Breaking into Heaven" 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 "Breaking into Heaven" by Heaven & Hell are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.