How to Dial In "The Way Out Is Through" by Nine Inch Nails - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Way Out Is Through"
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 Fragile (1999). The Fragile is the third studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released as a triple album by Nothing Records and Interscope Records on September 21, 1999. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, the rig we use for Nine Inch Nails' other songs from The Fragile, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "The Way Out Is Through" Tone
What guitar did Nine Inch Nails use on "The Way Out Is Through"?
The guitar on "The Way Out Is Through" (released 1999) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "The Way Out Is Through" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 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 "The Way Out Is Through" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Way Out Is Through" 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 "The Way Out Is Through" by Nine Inch Nails are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.