How to Dial In "P.C.P." by Manic Street Preachers - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "P.C.P."
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 The Holy Bible (1994). The Holy Bible is the third studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, released on 29 August 1994 by Epic Records. Guitar.com's retrospective on the album says James Dean Bradfield stuck largely to a white Gibson Les Paul and used a Marshall amp through a 4x12 cabinet alongside a Vox AC30 throughout the recording, with a Soldano head now and then. It names no models and does not tie them to this song, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Manic Street Preachers' other songs from The Holy Bible, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "P.C.P." Tone
What guitar did Manic Street Preachers use on "P.C.P."?
The guitar on "P.C.P." (released 1994) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "P.C.P." need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, 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 "P.C.P." without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "P.C.P." 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 "P.C.P." by Manic Street Preachers are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.