Unto the Locust album cover - Machine Head
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Who We Are" by Machine Head - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Who We Are"

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.

Gain7
Bass6.5
Mid5.5
Treble6.5
Presence6.5
Volume7.5

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 Unto the Locust (2011). Unto the Locust is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Machine Head, released in September 2011. 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 rig we use for Machine Head's other songs from Unto the Locust, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Who We Are" Tone

  1. What guitar did Machine Head use on "Who We Are"?

    The guitar on "Who We Are" (released 2011) isn't documented; the ESP E-II Eclipse above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Who We Are" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 6.5, Mid 5.5, 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.

  3. Can I play "Who We Are" without the original gear?

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

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