How to Dial In "Born on Judgment Day" by Helloween - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Born on Judgment Day"
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 Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005). Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy is the eleventh studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 2005. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP E-II Eclipse through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Helloween's other songs from Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy, 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 "Born on Judgment Day" Tone
What guitar did Helloween use on "Born on Judgment Day"?
The guitar on "Born on Judgment Day" (released 2005) isn't documented; the ESP E-II Eclipse 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 "Born on Judgment Day" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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 "Born on Judgment Day" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Born on Judgment Day" 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 "Born on Judgment Day" by Helloween are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.