Nosferatu album cover - Helstar
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Perseverance and Desperation" by Helstar - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Perseverance and Desperation"

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.

Gain8
Bass6
Mid5
Treble7
Presence7
Volume7

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.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone7
Volume10
Recording notes

From Nosferatu (1989). Nosferatu is the fourth album by American heavy metal band Helstar, released by Metal Blade Records in November 1989. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Flying V through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Helstar's other songs from Nosferatu, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Perseverance and Desperation" Tone

  1. What guitar did Helstar use on "Perseverance and Desperation"?

    The guitar on "Perseverance and Desperation" (released 1989) isn't documented; the Gibson Flying V above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Perseverance and Desperation" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 7, 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.

  3. Can I play "Perseverance and Desperation" without the original gear?

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

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