Closure/Continuation album cover - Porcupine Tree
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Rats Return" by Porcupine Tree - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Rats Return"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain7
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume7

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume10
Recording notes

From Closure/Continuation (2022). Closure/Continuation is the eleventh studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a PRS Custom 24 through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the nearest rig we use for Porcupine Tree's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Rats Return" Tone

  1. What guitar did Porcupine Tree use on "Rats Return"?

    The guitar on "Rats Return" (released 2022) isn't documented; the PRS Custom 24 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Rats Return" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, 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.

  3. Can I play "Rats Return" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Rats Return" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Rats Return" by Porcupine Tree are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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