How to Dial In "No Friend of Mine" by Metal Church - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "No Friend of Mine"
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 Hanging in the Balance (1993). Hanging in the Balance is the fifth album by American heavy metal band Metal Church, released on 7 October 1993 by Blackheart Records and SPV/Steamhammer. The album's personnel list credits Craig Wells on lead guitar and John Marshall on rhythm guitar, with Kurdt Vanderhoof adding guitars, Jerry Cantrell on lead guitar on "Gods of Second Chance" and Randy Hansen on "Conductor". 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 Metal Church's other songs from Hanging in the Balance, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "No Friend of Mine" Tone
What guitar did Metal Church use on "No Friend of Mine"?
The guitar on "No Friend of Mine" (released 1993) 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 "No Friend of Mine" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 8. 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 "No Friend of Mine" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "No Friend of Mine" 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 "No Friend of Mine" by Metal Church are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.