How to Dial In "Russian Roulette" by Kiss - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Russian Roulette"
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 Sonic Boom (2009). Sonic Boom is the nineteenth studio album, and the first in 11 years, by the rock band Kiss, released on October 6, 2009. Tommy Thayer told Premier Guitar he used Les Pauls and borrowed Paul Stanley's '61 SG reissue on the album, and producer Greg Collins told the same magazine that Thayer's rhythm tracks ran a mid-'70s Marshall JMP 100-watt head alongside a Hughes & Kettner Statesman combo while Stanley's ran a 1966 Fender Bassman head and a Randall MTS head, all tracked with no pedals and without high gain. Neither ties a guitar or amp to this song, so a Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s through a Marshall JMP 2203 stands in. Set the amp to a medium-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 "Russian Roulette" Tone
What guitar did Kiss use on "Russian Roulette"?
The guitar on "Russian Roulette" (released 2009) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s 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 "Russian Roulette" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, 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.
Can I play "Russian Roulette" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Russian Roulette" 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 "Russian Roulette" by Kiss are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.