How to Dial In "The Story" by Thirty Seconds to Mars - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Story"
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 A Beautiful Lie (2005). Nothing published ties a guitar or amp to this track, so a Les Paul Custom into a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier stands in. A heavy but melodic alternative-rock crunch on the bridge humbucker. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "The Story" Tone
What guitar did Thirty Seconds to Mars use on "The Story"?
The guitar on "The Story" (released 2005) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "The Story" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, 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 "The Story" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Story" 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 "The Story" by Thirty Seconds to Mars are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.