How to Dial In "Script for a Jester's Tear" by Marillion - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Script for a Jester's Tear"
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.
The title track and opening song of Marillion's 1983 debut album, with Fish's dramatic vocal over a slow-building arrangement. Steve Rothery's guitar is clean and melodic at first and grows into a soaring, sustained lead tone later in the song. No source available here confirms the exact gear on this recording, so a Stratocaster through a Marshall with a delay pedal stands in. Use the neck pickup, a clean-to-lightly-driven tone and a long delay, and play the lead lines with a slow, singing vibrato.
Common Questions About the "Script for a Jester's Tear" Tone
What guitar did Marillion use on "Script for a Jester's Tear"?
The guitar on "Script for a Jester's Tear" (released 1983) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Script for a Jester's Tear" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, 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.
Can I play "Script for a Jester's Tear" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Script for a Jester's Tear" 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.
What pedals are on "Script for a Jester's Tear"?
Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Script for a Jester's Tear" by Marillion are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.