How to Dial In "Nightmare (Coming Back to You)" by Testament - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Nightmare (Coming Back to You)"
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 Practice What You Preach (1989). Practice What You Preach is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Testament, released on August 8, 1989 via Atlantic/Megaforce. 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 Practice What You Preach, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Nightmare (Coming Back to You)" Tone
What guitar did Testament use on "Nightmare (Coming Back to You)"?
The guitar on "Nightmare (Coming Back to You)" (released 1989) isn't documented; the ESP E-II Eclipse above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Nightmare (Coming Back to You)" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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 "Nightmare (Coming Back to You)" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Nightmare (Coming Back to You)" 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 "Nightmare (Coming Back to You)" by Testament are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.