How to Dial In "Sunless Empire" by The Black Dahlia Murder - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Sunless Empire"
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 Verminous (2020). Their ninth studio album, it was released on 17 April 2020 through Metal Blade Records and is the last with vocalist Trevor Strnad. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP LTD Viper-1000 through a Peavey 6505+, the nearest rig to the one documented for The Black Dahlia Murder, stands in. Set the amp to a saturated high-gain setting and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it two whole steps down (C standard).
Common Questions About the "Sunless Empire" Tone
What guitar did The Black Dahlia Murder use on "Sunless Empire"?
The guitar on "Sunless Empire" (released 2020) isn't documented; the ESP LTD Viper-1000 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in C Standard (C F B♭ E♭ G C), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Sunless Empire" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 9, Bass 6, Mid 4.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 7.5. 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 "Sunless Empire" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sunless Empire" 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 "Sunless Empire" by The Black Dahlia Murder are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.