Dynasty album cover - Kiss
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Magic Touch" by Kiss - Guitar Tone Settings

Kiss·1979·Dynasty
The rig

Gear for "Magic Touch"

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.

Gain5
Bass5
Mid6
Treble6.5
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.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume9
Recording notes

From Dynasty (1979). Nothing published ties a rig to this song, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom into a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue stands in. Set a light-to-medium crunch on the bridge pickup and dig in harder for the louder sections. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Magic Touch" Tone

  1. What guitar did Kiss use on "Magic Touch"?

    The guitar on "Magic Touch" (released 1979) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom 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 "Magic Touch" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, 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 "Magic Touch" without the original gear?

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

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