TonesMatch
Sleeping Sun — Nightwish1 / 2
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GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

Sleeping Sun Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Nightwish

Nightwish · 1990s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
ESP Horizon Custom (Emppu Vuorinen's main guitar for studio recordings in late 1990s)
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge), EMG 85 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JCM900
Pickup Position
Neck pickup

Studio recording, 1998-1999 (original release). No direct evidence for pedals or amp settings for this specific song/solo. Gear inferred from Emppu Vuorinen's known setup for Oceanborn era studio recordings. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the solo section.

Amp Settings

Mids
6
Bass
5.5
Gain
6
Reverb
3.5
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
  • Chorus pedal (model unknown) · chorus

ESP Horizon Custom → Delay pedal → Chorus pedal → Marshall JCM900 (with spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • warm and singing lead tone
  • smooth sustain
  • mild breakup, not high-gain
  • clear note separation
  • emotional, expressive phrasing
  • slightly compressed
  • not aggressive or percussive
  • rounded highs, not piercing
  • lush, melodic character
  • gentle attack

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct source confirms exact guitar, amp, or pedal settings for 'Sleeping Sun' solo; all gear and settings are inferred from Emppu Vuorinen's known Oceanborn-era studio rig.
  • ⚠️No official rig rundown, pedalboard photo, or interview for this specific song/solo found in sources.
  • ⚠️No numeric amp settings found; values estimated based on typical Marshall JCM900 settings for melodic metal ballad leads in late 1990s.
  • ⚠️No explicit mention of effects or pedals for this solo; effects inferred from audio and genre conventions.
  • ⚠️Pickup choice inferred from typical lead tone and Emppu's use of neck pickup for melodic solos.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Emppu Vuorinen's solo tone on 'Sleeping Sun' is a smooth, singing high-gain lead with moderate mids (not scooped), tight but not boomy lows, and a clear top end. The production is late-90s/early-2000s symphonic metal, so the amp is likely set for articulate sustain with moderate ambience and presence for clarity in the mix.

Sources