TONEDB

lead guitar from “the best of times” by dream theater | ToneDB

the best of times

dream theater

lead guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

This lead guitar tone is bright and articulate, with a smooth sustain and controlled distortion. It's designed for soaring melodies and expressive phrasing, cutting through the mix without harshness.

Gear

Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signatureinstrument
Reverb$2700Sweetwater
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+amp
ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57microphone
ReverbSweetwater
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808processing
Reverb$120Sweetwater
TC Electronic Chorus/Flangerprocessing
Reverb$285Sweetwater

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

The Story

John Petrucci recorded this lead guitar tone using his Ernie Ball Music Man signature guitar through a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amplifier, with an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808 for additional drive and sustain. The recording was produced and engineered by Richard Chycki at Avatar Studios in New York City, with a Shure SM57 microphone capturing the amp, and TC Electronic chorus/flanger adding dimensional effects to the tone.

Production Credits

Producer: Richard Chycki

Engineer: Richard Chycki

Recorded at: Avatar Studios, New York City

Signal Chain

Instrument: Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signature

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808, TC Electronic Chorus/Flanger

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amp model and dial in a moderately distorted tone.
  • Add a Tube Screamer to push the amp into further saturation for sustain and harmonic richness.
  • Use a chorus or flanger sparingly to add some movement and depth to the sound, without making it overly washed out.
  • Experiment with different microphone positions to find the sweet spot of the cabinet.

Original Gear

  • Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signature(guitar)
  • Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+(amp)
  • Shure SM57(mic)
  • Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808(pedal)
  • TC Electronic Chorus/Flanger(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Neural DSP Archetype Petrucci$99-$149

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+

Official Petrucci plugin with accurate Mark IIC+ modeling and built-in Tube Screamer circuit for this exact tone

ReverbSweetwater
Mesa/Boogie Mark V$2400-$2800

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+

Current production Mesa amp that includes the Mark IIC+ circuit mode for authentic vintage tone

ReverbSweetwater
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808$150-$200

Alternative to: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808

Still in production and identical to the original pedal used on the recording

ReverbSweetwater
TC Electronic Corona Chorus$120-$150

Alternative to: TC Electronic Chorus/Flanger

Modern TC chorus pedal that provides the spatial dimension heard on the lead tone

ReverbSweetwater
Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci JP16$3200-$3800

Alternative to: Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signature

Current production version of Petrucci's signature guitar with identical pickups and specifications

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!