Heavy album cover - Iron Butterfly
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Unconscious Power" by Iron Butterfly - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Unconscious Power"

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.

Gain6
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6
Presence5.5
Volume7

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone6.5
Volume8.5
Recording notes

From Heavy (1968). Heavy is the debut studio album by the rock band Iron Butterfly, released on January 22, 1968. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Mosrite Ventures Mark I through a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue, the rig we use for Iron Butterfly's other songs from Heavy, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Unconscious Power" Tone

  1. What guitar did Iron Butterfly use on "Unconscious Power"?

    The guitar on "Unconscious Power" (released 1968) isn't documented; the Mosrite Ventures Mark I above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Unconscious Power" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6, 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.

  3. Can I play "Unconscious Power" without the original gear?

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

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