How to Dial In "A Day in the Death" by Testament - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "A Day in the Death"
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 Dark Roots of Earth (2012). Dark Roots of Earth is the eleventh studio album by the American thrash metal band Testament, released on 27 July 2012 by Nuclear Blast. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP E-II Eclipse through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Testament's other songs from Dark Roots of Earth, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "A Day in the Death" Tone
What guitar did Testament use on "A Day in the Death"?
The guitar on "A Day in the Death" (released 2012) isn't documented; the ESP E-II Eclipse above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "A Day in the Death" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, 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 "A Day in the Death" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "A Day in the Death" 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 "A Day in the Death" by Testament are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.