TonesMatch
Nemo — Nightwish1 / 2
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Nemo Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nightwish

Nightwish · 2000s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
ESP Horizon Custom (Emppu Vuorinen signature, likely with EMG 81/85 pickups)
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge), EMG 85 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (studio recording, 2004)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording for 'Nemo' (Once, 2004). Guitarist: Emppu Vuorinen. ESP Horizon Custom with EMG pickups into Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier. No direct evidence of pedal use for riff section; effects inferred from audio. Settings estimated based on genre, amp, and era. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for studio recording.

Amp Settings

Mids
4.5
Bass
6
Gain
8
Reverb
1.5
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • scooped mids
  • aggressive palm muting
  • high-gain saturation
  • articulate chugging
  • modern metal clarity
  • compressed attack
  • full-bodied low end
  • clear note separation
  • slight ambient reverb

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct source lists exact pedal or amp settings for 'Nemo' studio recording; settings estimated based on genre, amp, and era.
  • ⚠️No explicit confirmation of pedal use for the riff section; no chorus, flanger, or delay is clearly audible in the riff.
  • ⚠️ESP Horizon Custom with EMG pickups is inferred from Emppu Vuorinen's known gear for this era; some sources mention Washburn N4 for earlier albums, but ESP/EMG is confirmed for Once (2004).
  • ⚠️Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier is widely cited as the amp for this era, but not explicitly tied to 'Nemo' in available sources.
  • ⚠️Reverb is likely from amp or studio; no evidence of pedal-based reverb or other effects in riff section.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Nightwish's 'Nemo' features a modern symphonic metal tone: high gain for saturated, tight rhythm, slightly scooped mids for clarity in a dense mix, controlled bass to avoid muddiness, and enough treble/presence to cut through orchestration. The reverb is minimal, as is typical for tight, modern metal production.

Sources