How to Dial In "When the Angels Sing" by Social Distortion - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "When the Angels Sing"
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 White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996). White Light, White Heat, White Trash is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band Social Distortion, released on September 17, 1996, by 550 Music and Epic Records. The album's Wikipedia article quotes Mike Ness saying he cut the guitar tracks with a '68 Gold Top reissue with P-90 pickups, a few SG reissues and a Silvertone through various Fenders, Marshalls and Soldanos, but it does not say which of them went to this song, so a Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Social Distortion's other songs from White Light, White Heat, White Trash, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in E♭ standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), a half step below standard.
Common Questions About the "When the Angels Sing" Tone
What guitar did Social Distortion use on "When the Angels Sing"?
The guitar on "When the Angels Sing" (released 1996) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "When the Angels Sing" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, 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 "When the Angels Sing" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "When the Angels Sing" 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 "When the Angels Sing" by Social Distortion are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.