What guitar did Alexi Laiho use on Are You Dead Yet?

Alexi Laiho used his ESP signature guitars equipped with EMG HZ H4 passive humbuckers for recording Are You Dead Yet. These were custom shop instruments that later became the basis for his production signature models.

How to get Children of Bodom rhythm guitar tone?

Use high-output passive humbuckers through a high-gain amp like an Engl Savage with a mid-scooped EQ. Add an Ibanez Tube Screamer as a clean boost with low gain and high level, plus a noise gate for tight palm-muted sections.

What amp did Children of Bodom use on Are You Dead Yet album?

Children of Bodom primarily used Engl Savage 120 and Engl Powerball heads for the rhythm guitar tones on Are You Dead Yet. These amps were paired with Engl 4x12 cabinets loaded with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.

Why did Alexi Laiho use EMG HZ pickups instead of active EMGs?

Alexi preferred EMG HZ H4 passive pickups because they provided high output without the compressed character of active pickups, allowing for more dynamic response while maintaining the aggressive tone needed for melodic death metal. The passive design also eliminated battery dependency.

How were Children of Bodom rhythm guitars recorded?

The rhythm guitars were double-tracked using two separate performances and hard-panned left and right for stereo width. Close-mic techniques with SM57 and MD421 microphones captured the cabinet, with minimal post-processing to maintain the dry, aggressive character.

rhythm guitar from "are you dead yet" by children of bodom

are you dead yet

children of bodom

rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

A very tight, aggressive, and highly saturated high-gain rhythm tone with a distinct mid-scoop, providing exceptional clarity for fast melodic death metal riffs and a powerful, cutting presence.

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ESP Custom Shop (e.g., Alexi Laiho Signature model) with EMG HZ H4 passive humbuckers(instrument)
Engl Savage 120 or Engl Powerball(amp)
Shure SM57 and/or Sennheiser MD421-II(microphone)
Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer (used as a clean boost with gain low, level high)(processing)
ISP Decimator II Noise Gate(processing)
ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Series (e.g., Scythe, Katana)(guitar)
EMG HZ H4 Passive Humbucker(pickup)
Engl Savage 120(amp)
Engl Powerball(amp)
Engl E412VSB 4x12 Cabinet (with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers)(amp)
Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer(pedal)
ISP Decimator II Noise Reduction(pedal)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Sennheiser MD421-II(microphone)

The Story

Alexi Laiho recorded the rhythm guitars for "Are You Dead Yet?" using his signature ESP guitars equipped with EMG HZ H4 passive humbuckers through an Engl Savage 120 or Powerball head. The signal chain included an Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer used as a clean boost with minimal gain and maximum level to tighten the low end. The guitars were double-tracked and hard-panned left and right, recorded through an Engl 4x12 cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers using close-mic techniques with SM57 and MD421 microphones.

Signal Chain

Instrument: ESP Custom Shop (e.g., Alexi Laiho Signature model) with EMG HZ H4 passive humbuckersShop on Reverb

Amp: Engl Savage 120 or Engl PowerballShop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57 and/or Sennheiser MD421-IIShop on Reverb

Processing: Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer (used as a clean boost with gain low, level high)Shop on Reverb, ISP Decimator II Noise Gate (or similar)Shop on Reverb

Other: Amp's clean channel used as a boost for the lead channel; Cabinet: Engl 4x12 with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers; Double-tracked rhythm guitars (two distinct takes, panned hard left and right).

Recreation Tips

Use a guitar with high-output passive or active humbuckers (e.g., EMG HZ H4, EMG 81/60).
Dial in a high-gain amp with a prominent mid-scoop on the EQ, but ensure the presence and treble are set to cut through.
Place an overdrive pedal (like a Tube Screamer) before the amp with its gain knob near zero, level knob at max, and tone knob adjusted to taste for tightness.
Employ a high-quality noise gate to eliminate unwanted hum and tighten stops between riffs.
Practice extremely tight palm-muting and consistent, aggressive down-picking for the signature percussive attack.
Record two separate, identical rhythm guitar tracks and pan them hard left and right in your mix for the desired thickness and stereo spread.