Wheels of Steel album cover - Saxon
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Machine Gun" by Saxon - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Machine Gun"

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.

Gain6
Bass6
Mid6
Treble6
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
Tone6
Volume9
Recording notes

From Wheels of Steel (1980). Wheels of Steel is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue, the rig we use for Saxon's other songs from Wheels of Steel, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Machine Gun" Tone

  1. What guitar did Saxon use on "Machine Gun"?

    The guitar on "Machine Gun" (released 1980) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard 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 "Machine Gun" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6, 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 "Machine Gun" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Machine Gun" 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 "Machine Gun" by Saxon are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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