How to Dial In "Birds of Hell Awaiting" by Marilyn Manson - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Birds of Hell Awaiting"
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 Pale Emperor (2015). The Pale Emperor is the ninth studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. Tyler Bates, who produced The Pale Emperor and played its guitars, told Guitar World in 2026 that a Peavey Classic 50 combo, an amp he was given in the early 1990s, is on every Manson album he has made, and that he likes it because it is not super-saturated and lets small artifacts come through. He does not tie it to one song or say which speaker configuration, so a Peavey Classic 50/212 stands in, with a Gibson Les Paul Standard as the guitar. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Birds of Hell Awaiting" Tone
What guitar did Marilyn Manson use on "Birds of Hell Awaiting"?
The guitar on "Birds of Hell Awaiting" (released 2015) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Birds of Hell Awaiting" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 6, 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 "Birds of Hell Awaiting" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Birds of Hell Awaiting" 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 "Birds of Hell Awaiting" by Marilyn Manson are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.