Hardware album cover - Krokus
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Rock City" by Krokus - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Rock City"

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.

Gain6.5
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
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
Tone8
Volume10
Recording notes

From Hardware (1981). Hardware is the fifth studio album by the Swiss hard rock band Krokus, released on 18 February 1981 by Ariola. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the nearest rig we use for Krokus' other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Rock City" Tone

  1. What guitar did Krokus use on "Rock City"?

    The guitar on "Rock City" (released 1981) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Rock City" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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 "Rock City" without the original gear?

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

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