Tone library / Dream Theater / Breaking All Illusions

Breaking All Illusions amp settings — Valeton GP-100

The Dream Theater guitar tone for “Breaking All Illusions”, dialed in for a Valeton GP-100 with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio album version, A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011) — Iconic melodic lead solo tone

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark V (Mark IIC+ mode) + Music Man John Petrucci signature guitar with DiMarzio Crunch Lab/LiquiFire pickups + TC Electronic Dreamscape / delay

Liquid, singing high-gain lead with smooth upper mids, extended sustain, and ambient stereo delay
Amp settings — Valeton GP-100
CHANNELUS CLAMP (Mesa Mark lead model) + V30 4x12 Cab IRBRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 7 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 5 PRESENCE 6 REVERB 4 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass5
Mid7
Treble5
Presence6
Reverb4
Master7
Don’t have a Valeton GP-100? Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPneck TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Valeton GP-100: Tube Drive (OD Block)

Clean boost in front of the amp block to tighten low-end and boost single-coil output

Gain 1 · Tone 6 · Level 8

02Valeton GP-100: Digital Delay (DLY Block)

Set to dotted 8th or ~480ms trailing in the post-amp section

Time 6 · Feedback 4 · Mix 4
Why these settings

To replicate Petrucci's thick humbucker lead tone on a single-coil Squier Strat, mids are pushed significantly to 7 and the tone knob is rolled back slightly to 8 to avoid brittle high-end. The GP-100 Tube Drive block acts as an always-on clean boost to saturate the Mesa Mark model without introducing harsh clipping.

PRO TIPPetrucci plays this solo with high-angle alternate picking and switches to the neck pickup for the soaring melodic sections, using heavy left-hand vibrato to maximize sustain on sustained notes.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Valeton GP-100. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play
More tones for the Valeton GP-100
Sweet Child O' MineGuns N' RosesLife is a highwayRascal flattsPack AnimalGnawingGOODBYE YESTERDAYELEVATION RHYTHM & Gracie BinionKnockin' On Heaven's DoorGuns N' RosesTu infame engañoLos temerarios
Find your amp
Browse
Valeton GP-100 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Dream Theater tonesALL SONGS Dream Theater on the Valeton GP-100SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Squier Affinity Stratocaster tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.

Get ToneAdapt — first match free