How to Dial In "Krakatau" by Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Krakatau"
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 Odyssey (1988). His fourth studio album, produced by Malmsteen with Jeff Glixman and Jim Lewis and recorded at Cherokee in Hollywood, House of Music in West Orange and Studio D in Austin, released on 8 April 1988 through Polydor. Malmsteen is tied to a scalloped-fingerboard Fender Stratocaster and Marshall Super Lead heads, but no source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Stratocaster through a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue stands in. Set the amp to a driven crunch and use the neck pickup. Published transcriptions put it a half step down (Eb standard).
Common Questions About the "Krakatau" Tone
What guitar did Yngwie Malmsteen use on "Krakatau"?
The guitar on "Krakatau" (released 1988) isn't documented; the Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Krakatau" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6.5, 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 "Krakatau" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Krakatau" 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.
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Tone references for "Krakatau" by Yngwie Malmsteen are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.