Solo Tone

A Tale That Wasn't Right

Helloween

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

GuitarJackson Soloist (likely custom, 1987 era, as used by Kai Hansen/Michael Weikath in Helloween studio recordings)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1987)

PickupsSeymour Duncan humbuckers (exact model unknown, likely SH-4 JB or similar, bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble7

reverb3.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording for 'Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I' (1987). No direct source confirms the exact guitar/amp for this solo, but period-correct interviews, live footage, and genre/era inference strongly support Jackson Soloist with Seymour Duncan humbucker into a Marshall JCM800. No evidence of acoustic or non-standard gear for the solo section.

Tone Character(10)

singing sustainsmooth and melodicwarm midrange focusclear note separationlush reverb ambienceslight delay tailhigh-gain saturationarticulate pick attackno modulation swirlbridge pickup brightness

Difficulty

The solo requires advanced bending, vibrato, and legato technique, as well as expressive phrasing and dynamic control typical of 1980s melodic metal ballads.

Sources

Need help with bending/note detection : r/electricguitar Michael Kiske | Equipboard

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