How to Dial In "First Love" by Stryper - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "First Love"
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 Second Coming (2013). Second Coming is the fourteenth release and ninth studio album by American Christian heavy metal/hard rock band Stryper. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Jackson American Series Soloist SL3 through a Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Reissue, the nearest rig we use for Stryper's 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 "First Love" Tone
What guitar did Stryper use on "First Love"?
The guitar on "First Love" (released 2013) isn't documented; the Jackson American Series Soloist SL3 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 "First Love" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 6.5. 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 "First Love" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "First Love" 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 "First Love" by Stryper are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.