How to Dial In "Black Dog on My Shoulder" by Manic Street Preachers - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Black Dog on My Shoulder"
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 This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (1998). This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours is a studio album by the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, released on 14 September 1998 by Epic Records. The album's personnel list credits James Dean Bradfield with lead and rhythm guitar. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Vox AC30 C2, the rig we use for Manic Street Preachers' other songs from This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Black Dog on My Shoulder" Tone
What guitar did Manic Street Preachers use on "Black Dog on My Shoulder"?
The guitar on "Black Dog on My Shoulder" (released 1998) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Black Dog on My Shoulder" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 6, Volume 6. 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 "Black Dog on My Shoulder" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Black Dog on My Shoulder" 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.
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Tone references for "Black Dog on My Shoulder" by Manic Street Preachers are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.