Tone Settings for Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Set volume to 100% on the guitar for full output and maximum gain saturation.
• Ensure amp volume provides enough headroom to stay articulate at high gain without distorting excessively.

2. Tone

• Guitar tone knob should be on full (10) to retain brightness and clarity.
• Amp EQ settings: Treble = 6-7, Mids = 4-5, Bass = 5-6 (adjust as needed depending on your amp).
• Use a slight boost in upper mids for enhanced punch and clarity in lead lines.

3. Pickup Selector

• Set the pickup selector to bridge position for tight rhythm and searing lead tones.
• Optional: Use neck pickup for smoother legato during solos if desired, but bridge is favored overall.

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Humbuckers are strongly preferred due to their high output and noise-cancelling properties.
• A modern high-output bridge humbucker will better handle distortion and sustain.

5. Ideal guitar type which is a Electric (Super Strat)

• Super Strat-style electric guitar with double cutaway for upper fret access.
• Equipped with at least one high-output bridge humbucker (HSS or HSH configuration ideal).
• Fast neck with jumbo frets and flatter radius (12″-16″) for easier soloing and bending.
• Preferably has a locking tremolo system (e.g. Floyd Rose) for aggressive dive bombs and stability.

• Jackson Dinky: Fast neck and high-output pickups ideal for metal solos.
• Gibson Les Paul Standard: Thick, powerful tone great for rhythm and leads.
• Marshall JCM800 Amp: Classic British metal sound with crunchy distortion.
• Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal: Adds sharp, aggressive gain for solos.
• Dunlop Cry Baby Wah: Useful for expressive lead parts and solos.
• Ibanez Tube Screamer: Pushes the amp into classic overdrive territory.
• MXR Phase 90: Subtle modulation for added movement in leads.
• Ernie Ball Super Slinky Strings: Light gauge for quicker bends and fast runs.
• Shure SM57 Mic (for amp miking): Standard for capturing tight amp tones live or recorded.
• BOSS TU-3 Chromatic Tuner: Reliable tuning for precision required in metal playing.

• Use aggressive palm muting for tight rhythm guitar sections
• Dial in mid-to-high gain amp settings for clarity and punch
• Scoop mids slightly for a classic metal tone, but retain some presence
• Use a bridge humbucker pickup for rhythm parts
• Switch to neck pickup or blend for smooth lead tones
• Employ fast alternate picking with high articulation in solos
• Set delay to low mix and short feedback for lead sustain
• Tune to standard E unless matching a specific live version
• Use a compressor to even out dynamic guitar phrases
• Double-track rhythm guitars for a wider stereo field