Long Way to Heaven album cover - Helix
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Deep Cuts the Knife" by Helix - Guitar Tone Settings

Helix·1985·Long Way to Heaven
The rig

Gear for "Deep Cuts the Knife"

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.

Gain7.5
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume8

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.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone7
Volume10
Recording notes

From Long Way to Heaven (1985). Long Way to Heaven is the fifth studio album by the Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band Helix, released on 6 June 1985 by Capitol Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Flying V through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the nearest rig we use for Helix's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Deep Cuts the Knife" Tone

  1. What guitar did Helix use on "Deep Cuts the Knife"?

    The guitar on "Deep Cuts the Knife" (released 1985) isn't documented; the Gibson Flying V above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Deep Cuts the Knife" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 8. 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 "Deep Cuts the Knife" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Deep Cuts the Knife" 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 "Deep Cuts the Knife" by Helix are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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