How to Dial In "Poison Door" by The Sisters of Mercy - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Poison Door"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These are the numbers on the record. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From First and Last and Always (1985). First and Last and Always is the debut studio album by English gothic rock band the Sisters of Mercy, first released on 11 March 1985 through the band's Merciful Release label. Wayne Hussey told Guitar World that all he used on the album was a Roland JC-60 Jazz Chorus, an Aria 12-string, a Fender Telecaster and a Fender acoustic, with Boss phaser, compressor and distortion pedals and an old Electro-Harmonix Memory Man Deluxe; Gary Marx said he hired a Fender Telecaster and played clean, straight into the desk. Neither says which instrument or pedal went on which song, so the Telecaster through the JC-60 is the rig here, with the pedals left off. Set the amp clean, with the gain barely up, and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Poison Door" Tone
What guitar did The Sisters of Mercy use on "Poison Door"?
The Sisters of Mercy tracked "Poison Door" on a Telecaster (released 1985). The Fender American Original 60s Telecaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Poison Door" need?
On the original amp: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 5, Volume 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 "Poison Door" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Poison Door" 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 "Poison Door" by The Sisters of Mercy are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.