How to Dial In "Sail into the Black" by Machine Head - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Sail into the Black"
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 Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014). Their eighth studio album, it was released through Nuclear Blast on 7 November 2014 and is the first with bassist Jared MacEachern. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP E-II Eclipse through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, the nearest rig to the one documented for Machine Head, stands in. Set the amp to a saturated high-gain setting and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop B.
Common Questions About the "Sail into the Black" Tone
What guitar did Machine Head use on "Sail into the Black"?
The guitar on "Sail into the Black" (released 2014) 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 "Sail into the Black" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6.5, Mid 5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6.5, Volume 7.5. 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 "Sail into the Black" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sail into the Black" 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 "Sail into the Black" by Machine Head are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.