How to Dial In "Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)" by Mercyful Fate - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)"
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 Into the Unknown (1996). Into the Unknown is the fifth album by Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate, released on 20 August 1996 through Metal Blade Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Flying V through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Mercyful Fate's other songs from Into the Unknown, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)" Tone
What guitar did Mercyful Fate use on "Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)"?
The guitar on "Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)" (released 1996) isn't documented; the Gibson Flying V above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 6, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7.5. 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 "Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)" 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 "Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)" by Mercyful Fate are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.