How to Dial In "A Grand Declaration of War" by Mayhem - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "A Grand Declaration of War"
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 Grand Declaration of War (2000). Grand Declaration of War is the second studio album by the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem, released by Season of Mist and Necropolis Records on 6 June 2000. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the nearest rig we use for Mayhem's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in E♭ standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), a half step below standard.
Common Questions About the "A Grand Declaration of War" Tone
What guitar did Mayhem use on "A Grand Declaration of War"?
The guitar on "A Grand Declaration of War" (released 2000) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "A Grand Declaration of War" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 4, Mid 5, Treble 8, Presence 7, 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 "A Grand Declaration of War" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "A Grand Declaration of War" 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 "A Grand Declaration of War" by Mayhem are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.