lead guitar from “crystal mountain” by death | ToneDB
crystal mountain
death
lead guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
The lead guitar tone is aggressive and cutting, with a strong midrange presence and a slight fuzziness. It's well-defined and articulate, fitting the technical death metal style.
Gear
- Ibanez Guitarsinstrument
- ReverbSweetwater
- Peavey VTM 120amp
- Reverb$100Sweetwater
- Shure SM57microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- Ibanez Tube Screamerprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
- Boss HM-2 Heavy Metalprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
Chuck Schuldiner recorded the lead guitars for "Crystal Mountain" at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida with producer Jim Morris. The tone was achieved using an Ibanez guitar through a Peavey VTM 120 amp, boosted with both an Ibanez Tube Screamer and Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal. The aggressive, cutting sound was captured with a Shure SM57 microphone placed close to the speaker cone.
Production Credits
Producer: Death
Engineer: Jim Morris
Recorded at: Morrisound Recording, Tampa, Florida
Signal Chain
Instrument: Ibanez Guitars
Amp: Peavey VTM 120
Microphone: Shure SM57
Processing: Ibanez Tube Screamer, Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal
Recreation Tips
- Start with a guitar equipped with humbucker pickups.
- Use a Peavey VTM 120 amp or an amp model that emulates its tone.
- Dial in a moderate amount of gain on the amp.
- Add an Ibanez Tube Screamer and a Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal for extra sustain and saturation.
- Place a Shure SM57 close to the speaker cone to capture the aggressive tone.
- In the mix, focus on the midrange frequencies to bring out the articulation of the guitar.
Original Gear
- Ibanez Guitars(guitar)
- Peavey VTM 120(amp)
- Shure SM57(mic)
- Ibanez Tube Screamer(pedal)
- Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Peavey VTM 120
Delivers similar Marshall-inspired aggressive midrange with tight low end that cuts through technical death metal mixes
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal
Modern reissue of the exact HM-2 used on the recording, with improved build quality and switchable vintage/modern modes
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Ibanez Tube Screamer
Current production version of the classic overdrive that provides the midrange boost and sustain used in Chuck's setup
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Peavey VTM 120
Digital alternative that captures similar high-gain Marshall-style tones with tight response for technical playing
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Ibanez guitar with humbuckers
Budget-friendly Ibanez with similar humbucker configuration and fast neck suitable for technical death metal playing
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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