How to Dial In "Ballerina 12/24" by Steve Vai - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Ballerina 12/24"
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 Passion and Warfare (1990). His second studio album, produced by Steve Vai at his studio The Mothership, it was released on May 22, 1990 through Relativity and Epic Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an Ibanez JEM7V through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the nearest rig to the one documented for Steve Vai, stands in. Set the amp to a clean, lightly driven tone and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Ballerina 12/24" Tone
What guitar did Steve Vai use on "Ballerina 12/24"?
The guitar on "Ballerina 12/24" (released 1990) isn't documented; the Ibanez JEM7V above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Ballerina 12/24" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, 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.
Can I play "Ballerina 12/24" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Ballerina 12/24" 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 "Ballerina 12/24" by Steve Vai are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.