How to Dial In "Higher Than Hope" by Nightwish - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Higher Than Hope"
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 Once (2004). Once is the fifth studio album by the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 7 June 2004 by Spinefarm Records in Finland and Nuclear Blast in the rest of Europe. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP E-II Eclipse through an Engl Powerball, the rig we use for Nightwish's other songs from Once, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop C (C G C F A D).
Common Questions About the "Higher Than Hope" Tone
What guitar did Nightwish use on "Higher Than Hope"?
The guitar on "Higher Than Hope" (released 2004) isn't documented; the ESP E-II Eclipse above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop C (C G C F A D), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Higher Than Hope" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5.5, 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 "Higher Than Hope" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Higher Than Hope" 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 "Higher Than Hope" by Nightwish are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.