How to Dial In "Descend the Shades of Night" by Machine Head - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Descend the Shades of Night"
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 Through the Ashes of Empires (2003). Through the Ashes of Empires is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Machine Head. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP E-II Eclipse through a Randall RG100 G3 Plus, the rig we use for Machine Head's other songs from Through the Ashes of Empires, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop B (B F♯ B E G♯ C♯).
Common Questions About the "Descend the Shades of Night" Tone
What guitar did Machine Head use on "Descend the Shades of Night"?
The guitar on "Descend the Shades of Night" (released 2003) isn't documented; the ESP E-II Eclipse above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop B (B F♯ B E G♯ C♯), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Descend the Shades of Night" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6, 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.
Can I play "Descend the Shades of Night" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Descend the Shades of Night" 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 "Descend the Shades of Night" by Machine Head are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.