The More Things Change... album cover - Machine Head
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Violate" by Machine Head - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Violate"

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.

Gain8
Bass6
Mid5
Treble7
Presence6.5
Volume7

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningDrop B(B F♯ B E G♯ C♯)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume10
Recording notes

From The More Things Change... (1997). The More Things Change… is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Machine Head, released on March 25, 1997 through Roadrunner Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP E-II Eclipse through a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier, the rig we use for Machine Head's other songs from The More Things Change..., 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♯).

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Violate" Tone

  1. What guitar did Machine Head use on "Violate"?

    The guitar on "Violate" (released 1997) 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.

  2. What amp settings does "Violate" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, 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 "Violate" without the original gear?

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

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