How to Dial In "Test for Echo" by Rush - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Test for Echo"
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 Test for Echo (1996). The title track and lead single, with chiming, open-voiced chordal guitar and a polished mid-nineties sound. The album's Wikipedia page says Alex Lifeson plays a Les Paul Custom on it, while other sources have him on PRS guitars and Hughes & Kettner Triamp amps through this period. None of them names the rig for this recording, so a PRS Custom 24 through a Triamp stands in. Set the amp at a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Test for Echo" Tone
What guitar did Rush use on "Test for Echo"?
The guitar on "Test for Echo" (released 1996) isn't documented; the PRS Custom 24 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Test for Echo" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, 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 "Test for Echo" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Test for Echo" 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 "Test for Echo" by Rush are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.