How to Dial In "Winter Skies" by Stratovarius - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Winter Skies"
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 Polaris (2009). Polaris is the twelfth studio album by power metal band Stratovarius, released on 15 May 2009. 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 nearest rig we use for Stratovarius' other songs, 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 "Winter Skies" Tone
What guitar did Stratovarius use on "Winter Skies"?
The guitar on "Winter Skies" (released 2009) 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 "Winter Skies" 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 "Winter Skies" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Winter Skies" 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 "Winter Skies" by Stratovarius are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.