How to Dial In "The Hands of Time" by Stratovarius - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Hands of Time"
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 Twilight Time (1992). Twilight Time is the second studio album by the power metal band Stratovarius. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an Ibanez RG1570 Prestige through a Marshall JCM900 4100 Dual Reverb, the rig we use for Stratovarius' other songs from Twilight Time, 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 "The Hands of Time" Tone
What guitar did Stratovarius use on "The Hands of Time"?
The guitar on "The Hands of Time" (released 1992) isn't documented; the Ibanez RG1570 Prestige 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 "The Hands of Time" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, 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 Hands of Time" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Hands of Time" 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 Hands of Time" by Stratovarius are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.