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

the best of times

dream theater

lead guitar

75% ai confidence

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.

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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

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.

Substitutions & Recommendations

Neural DSP Archetype PetrucciPlugin Boutique$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

Mesa/Boogie Mark VShop on Reverb$2400-$2800

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+

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

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808Shop on Reverb$150-$200

Alternative to: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808

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

TC Electronic Corona ChorusShop on Reverb$120-$150

Alternative to: TC Electronic Chorus/Flanger

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

Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci JP16Shop on Reverb$3200-$3800

Alternative to: Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signature

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

Sources

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