How to Dial In "The Heretic Anthem" by Slipknot - Guitar Tone Settings
What Slipknot Actually Used on "The Heretic Anthem"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Drop A (A-E-A-D-F#-B) — five transcriptions agree and none reads drop B, which had been assumed here only because it is the band's more common tuning. Iowa was recorded in 2001 with Ross Robinson under famously hostile conditions and is deliberately the ugliest-sounding album in their catalogue. Mick Thomson and Jim Root double the rhythm parts hard-panned, so the thickness is two players rather than one enormous amp. Keep the mids well down, the low end gated, and the picking tight: at drop A, excess gain turns the riff into undifferentiated noise.
Common Questions About the "The Heretic Anthem" Tone
What guitar did Slipknot use on "The Heretic Anthem"?
Slipknot tracked "The Heretic Anthem" on an ESP LTD MH-1000 (released 2001). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop A (A E A D F♯ B), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "The Heretic Anthem" need?
On Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier: Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 4.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, 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 "The Heretic Anthem" without a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Heretic Anthem" 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 "The Heretic Anthem" by Slipknot are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.