How to Dial In "Sword of Damocles" by Judas Priest - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Sword of Damocles"
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 Redeemer of Souls (2014). Redeemer of Souls is the seventeenth studio album by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, which was released in the US on 8 July 2014, in Europe on 11 July, and in the UK on 14 July. Glenn Tipton has said the band used Hamer and Gibson guitars and ENGL amps on all of the album's tracks, though he names no model and no source ties a rig to this particular song, so a Hamer Standard through an ENGL Powerball II 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 "Sword of Damocles" Tone
What guitar did Judas Priest use on "Sword of Damocles"?
The guitar on "Sword of Damocles" (released 2014) isn't documented; the Hamer 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 "Sword of Damocles" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6.5, 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 "Sword of Damocles" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sword of Damocles" 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.
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Tone references for "Sword of Damocles" by Judas Priest are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.