How to Dial In "By the Light" by Obituary - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "By the Light"
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 Back from the Dead (1997). Back from the Dead is the fifth album by American death metal band Obituary. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Jackson King V through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the nearest rig we use for Obituary'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 "By the Light" Tone
What guitar did Obituary use on "By the Light"?
The guitar on "By the Light" (released 1997) isn't documented; the Jackson King V 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 "By the Light" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6.5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, 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 "By the Light" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "By the Light" 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 "By the Light" by Obituary are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.