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lead guitar from “the trooper” by iron maiden | ToneDB

the trooper

iron maiden

lead guitar

90% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A bright, articulate, and aggressive mid-focused British heavy metal lead tone with singing sustain, characteristic of late 70s/early 80s Marshall amps.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Stratocaster (e.g., 1957 model) with a DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker in the bridge position and often a DiMarzio PAF in the neck.

Amp: Marshall JMP 100W Master Volume (2203) or 50W Master Volume (2204) head, or early JCM800 2203/2204.

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Dunlop Cry Baby wah (potentially used as a fixed filter, not heavily swept), Subtle studio delay (e.g., Roland SDE-3000 or similar) and plate reverb (added during mixing)

Other: Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion G12-65 speakers. Close-miked, likely slightly off-axis from the center of the speaker cone. Lead melodies are often harmonized with a second guitar part (Adrian Smith).

Recording Notes

  • Recorded for the album 'Piece of Mind' (1983) at Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas, produced by Martin Birch.
  • The core guitar tone comes from cranking Marshall amplifiers to achieve power tube saturation.
  • Lead guitars are prominent in the mix, often featuring harmonized lines between Dave Murray and Adrian Smith.
  • The fundamental guitar tracks were recorded relatively dry, with time-based effects like delay and reverb added judiciously during the mixing stage.
  • Picking dynamics and precise articulation are key to the performance.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a guitar equipped with a high-output bridge humbucker (like a DiMarzio Super Distortion or Seymour Duncan JB).
  • Employ a Marshall-style amplifier (JMP or early JCM800 voiced). Boost the midrange (around 7-8), presence (6-7), and treble (6-7), keeping bass moderate (4-5). Set gain for sustain while maintaining note definition.
  • If using a wah, try parking it in a position that enhances the upper-mid frequencies for a vocal-like quality, rather than actively sweeping it.
  • Focus on precise alternate picking, clear legato phrasing, and expressive string bending and vibrato.
  • To fully capture the Iron Maiden sound, practice playing or programming harmonized guitar lines, typically in diatonic thirds or fifths.

Sources