How to Dial In "Years Go By" by Stratovarius - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Years Go By"
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 Destiny (1998). Destiny is the seventh studio album by power metal band Stratovarius, released on 5 October 1998 through Noise Records. 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 Destiny, 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 "Years Go By" Tone
What guitar did Stratovarius use on "Years Go By"?
The guitar on "Years Go By" (released 1998) 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 "Years Go By" 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 "Years Go By" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Years Go By" 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 "Years Go By" by Stratovarius are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.