Tone library / Bullet for my valentine / Tears don't fall

Tears don't fall amp settings — Spark Spark 2

The Bullet for my valentine guitar tone for “Tears don't fall”, dialed in for a Spark Spark 2 with a Donnor DMT 100. Studio version, The Poison (2005)

Original rig

Peavey 5150/6505, Jackson DK-1 Custom with EMG 81/85, Ibanez Tubescreamer (boost), Morley Bad Horsie Wah

Tight, aggressive high-gain metalcore with scooped mids and percussive palm mutes

Amp settings — Spark Spark 2

CHANNELMetal amp model (or highest gain amp voicing available)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	5
Mid	4
Treble	6
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Noise Gate (Spark built-in)

Essential for tight palm mutes in Drop C — kills string noise between riffs

Threshold 5

02Tube Screamer / OD pedal (Spark built-in)

Use as a clean boost into the high-gain amp model — tightens low end, adds mid presence like the original TS boost

Drive 1 · Tone 6 · Level 7

Why these settings

Your Donnor DMT 100 has passive humbuckers vs the original's hot EMG actives, so gain is pushed to 8 (vs 6-7 on a real 5150 with EMGs) to compensate for lower output. The Spark's digital modeling is neutral, so select the highest-gain amp model available (Mesa or 5150-style). Mids are scooped slightly less than the original because passive pickups need more midrange definition to cut through.

PRO TIPDownpick all the main riffs and anchor your picking hand firmly on the bridge for maximum palm-mute thump — the 5150 tone on this record is defined by Matt Tuck's aggressive right-hand attack, not just the amp settings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Spark Spark 2. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.