How to Dial In "Presence of the Dead" by Pestilence - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Presence of the Dead"
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 Testimony of the Ancients (1991). Testimony of the Ancients is the third album by the Dutch death metal band Pestilence, released in 1991 on Roadrunner Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP LTD EC-1000 through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, a saturated death-metal pairing, stands in. Set the amp to a saturated high-gain setting and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Presence of the Dead" Tone
What guitar did Pestilence use on "Presence of the Dead"?
The guitar on "Presence of the Dead" (released 1991) isn't documented; the ESP LTD EC-1000 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Presence of the Dead" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8.5, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. 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 "Presence of the Dead" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Presence of the Dead" 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 "Presence of the Dead" by Pestilence are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.