The Ultra Zone album cover - Steve Vai
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Asian Sky" by Steve Vai - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Asian Sky"

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
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 The Ultra Zone (1999). The Ultra Zone is the sixth studio album by the American guitarist Steve Vai, released on September 7, 1999, through Epic Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an Ibanez JEM7V through a Bogner Ecstasy 101B, the rig we use for Steve Vai's other songs from The Ultra Zone, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the neck pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Asian Sky" Tone

  1. What guitar did Steve Vai use on "Asian Sky"?

    The guitar on "Asian Sky" (released 1999) isn't documented; the Ibanez JEM7V above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Asian Sky" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6, 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 "Asian Sky" without the original gear?

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

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