How to Dial In "Ready for Drowning" by Manic Street Preachers - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Ready for Drowning"
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 the fifth studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, released on 14 September 1998 by Epic Records. 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 "Ready for Drowning" Tone
What guitar did Manic Street Preachers use on "Ready for Drowning"?
The guitar on "Ready for Drowning" (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 "Ready for Drowning" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, 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 "Ready for Drowning" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Ready for Drowning" 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 "Ready for Drowning" by Manic Street Preachers are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.