Tone library / HIM / Join Me In Death

Join Me In Death amp settings — Peakey Backstage

The HIM guitar tone for “Join Me In Death”, dialed in for a Peakey Backstage with a Fender Stratocaster. Studio version, Razorblade Romance (2000)

Original rig

Gibson Flying V (humbuckers, bridge pickup) → ZVex Fuzz Factory → Marshall Valvestate 8100

Fuzzy saturated mid-forward rhythm with buzzsaw texture and tight attack
Amp settings — Peakey Backstage
GAIN 9 BASS 6 TREBLE 5 REVERB 1 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain9
Bass6
Treble5
Reverb1
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01ZVex Fuzz Factory

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Provides the signature fuzzy buzzsaw texture this tone requires. Without it, the Peakey Backstage alone cannot replicate the saturated fuzz character.

Volume 7 · Gate 3 · Comp 6 · Drive 8 · Stab 5
Why these settings

Your Strat's single-coil bridge pickup is bright and thin versus the original's humbucker warmth, so I pushed bass +1 and cut treble -2 to compensate for the inherent brightness. The Peakey Backstage lacks mid and presence controls, so I maxed gain to 9 to approximate the fuzz saturation, but this is a compromise—the original's fuzzy compression and harmonic texture comes from the Fuzz Factory pedal, not pure amp gain. Without that pedal, you'll get aggressive overdrive but miss the specific buzzsaw character.

PRO TIPRoll your Strat's tone knob back to 8 (not wide open) to thicken the bridge pickup and reduce ice-pick highs—this gets you closer to the humbucker's midrange body that drives the fuzz circuit effectively.

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

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