Bad Reputation album cover - Thin Lizzy
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Opium Trail" by Thin Lizzy - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Opium Trail"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain6
Bass5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
Volume7.5

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume10
Recording notes

From Bad Reputation (1977). A driving hard-rock track with a punchy, riff-led rhythm part and melodic lead fills. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe through a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue stands in. Use the bridge pickup and set the amp for a classic hard-rock crunch. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Opium Trail" Tone

  1. What guitar did Thin Lizzy use on "Opium Trail"?

    The guitar on "Opium Trail" (released 1977) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Opium Trail" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, 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.

  3. Can I play "Opium Trail" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Opium Trail" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Opium Trail" by Thin Lizzy are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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