How to Dial In "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Eternal Flame"
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.
The ballad from Everything, released in December 1988 and a number one single in the United States in 1989, written by Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly and Susanna Hoffs. The guitars are clean and chiming under Hoffs's lead vocal, with soft arpeggios and a small lift into the chorus. The Bangles are closely associated with Rickenbacker guitars, but no source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Rickenbacker 330 and a Twin Reverb stand in. Use the neck pickup, a touch of chorus, and play the arpeggios softly.
Common Questions About the "Eternal Flame" Tone
What guitar did The Bangles use on "Eternal Flame"?
The guitar on "Eternal Flame" (released 1988) isn't documented; the Rickenbacker 330 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Eternal Flame" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5, Volume 6. 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 "Eternal Flame" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Eternal Flame" 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.
What pedals are on "Eternal Flame"?
Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.