I Stand Alone

The recording

Rombola’s part was captured using a black Gibson Les Paul Custom with the bridge pickup, routed through a Boss NS‑2 noise gate, a Dunlop Cry Baby wah and an MXR ZW‑44 overdrive before feeding a high‑gain amp set to a saturated gain and balanced EQ, producing the thick, aggressive tone that defines the track.

Reported gear

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Guitar

Tony Rombola recorded the rhythm and lead parts on a black Gibson Les Paul Custom, delivering the thick, sustained tone that drives the main riff of 'I Stand Alone'.

Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor

Noise Gate

A Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor was placed in front of the amp to tame high‑gain hiss and tighten the massive distortion heard on the track.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Wah

A Dunlop Cry Baby Wah was engaged for the soaring lead passages, adding vocal‑like sweeps to the solos.

MXR ZW-44 Overdrive

Overdrive

An MXR ZW-44 Overdrive was inserted to push the amp’s front end, providing extra mids and a tighter low‑end before the high‑gain distortion.

EVH 5150 III

Amp

The high‑gain tone was shaped through an EVH 5150 III amp, which approximates the aggressive distortion and tight low‑end heard on the track; the original studio amp is undocumented, so this modern model serves as a close equivalent.

Alternatives

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Budget alternative · for the Gibson Les Paul Custom

$300 to $400

MXR ZW-44 Overdrive

Still made · for the MXR ZW-44 Overdrive

$80 to $120

Mooer ZNR-1 Noise Gate

Budget alternative · for the Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor

$50 to $70

Peavey 6505

Budget alternative · for the EVH 5150 III

$800 to $1,200

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Still made · for the Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

$70 to $120

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Use heavy palm‑muting on the low D string for the main riff
2. 2.Engage the Cry Baby wah during the solo sections for expressive sweeps
3. 3.Set the amp gain high and roll back the tone knob slightly to tame harshness
4. 4.Pick near the bridge to tighten the attack
5. 5.Alternate between downstrokes and alternate picking for speed