TonesMatch
The Best of Times — Dream Theater1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

The Best of Times Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Dream Theater

Dream Theater · 2010s+ · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 (John Petrucci signature, 6-string, likely BFR or standard, as used on Black Clouds & Silver Linings 2009 studio recording)
Pickups
DiMarzio Crunch Lab (bridge), DiMarzio LiquiFire (neck), both humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IV (primary studio amp for this album/era, confirmed by multiple sources for Petrucci's 2000s tones)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 2009. Petrucci is known to use the Mark IV for solos on Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Guitar is the JP6 with DiMarzio signature pickups. Effects are primarily rack-based or high-end pedals. Pickup selector is almost always bridge for his soaring lead tones in this era.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
5.5
Gain
7.5
Reverb
2.5
Treble
7
Presence
6.5

Effects Chain

  • Delay pedal (model unknown, likely rack or TC Electronic G-Major/2290) · delay
  • Chorus pedal (model unknown, likely TC Electronic SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger) · chorus

Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 → Delay pedal → Chorus pedal → Mesa/Boogie Mark IV (lead channel, digital reverb on amp or rack)

Tone Matcher

Match This Tone to Your Gear

Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.

Adapt to MY Gear →

7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.

Tone Character

  • singing sustain
  • liquid lead tone
  • tight and articulate
  • smooth legato runs
  • high-gain saturation
  • clear note separation
  • rich harmonics
  • expressive vibrato
  • compressed attack
  • lush ambience

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio photo or interview confirms the exact pedal models for this specific solo; effects are inferred from Petrucci's known rig and what is clearly audible.
  • ⚠️Amp settings are based on Guitar World and typical Mark IV lead channel settings for Petrucci in this era.
  • ⚠️Presence setting is estimated based on Mark IV usage and Petrucci's typical bright, articulate solo tone.
  • ⚠️Delay and chorus are clearly audible in the solo, but exact pedal models are not confirmed for this specific recording.
  • ⚠️Petrucci's live rig includes Axe-FX and other amps, but the studio recording for this album is widely reported to use the Mesa/Boogie Mark IV.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. John Petrucci's solo tone on 'The Best of Times' is high-gain, articulate, and mid-forward, typical of his Mesa/Boogie Mark series amps in the late 2000s. The bass is tight to avoid muddiness, mids are prominent for lead clarity, treble and presence are set for cut and articulation, and reverb is minimal, as most ambience comes from studio effects rather than amp reverb.

Sources