Tone Profile

A raw, aggressive, and punchy high-gain Marshall tone with tight low-end, prominent mids, and a cutting presence, defined by its percussive attack in Drop D tuning and subtle phasing.

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Recorded at Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA, known for its Neve 8028 console.
• Produced by Garth Richardson, engineered by Stan Katayama and GGGarth, mixed by Andy Wallace.
• Guitars were likely close-miked with a Shure SM57 on a Peavey 4x12 cabinet, capturing a direct and punchy sound.
• The overall production aimed for a raw, live, and powerful sound with minimal effects in post-production on the core guitar tone.
• Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-E) is fundamental to the song's heavy feel and riff structure.

Recreation Tips

• Tune your guitar to Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E).
• Use the bridge pickup, ideally a high-output active humbucker like an EMG 81.
• Set your Marshall JCM800 (or a similar high-gain British-voiced amp/model) with preamp gain high (e.g., 7-9 on the boost channel).
• Amp EQ (approximate JCM800 settings): Bass 4-5, Mids 7-8, Treble 6-7, Presence 6-7. Adjust to suit your specific guitar and cabinet.
• Use an MXR Phase 90 with the speed knob set low (around 9 o'clock) for the subtle chewy texture on the main riff.
• Place a graphic EQ pedal (like the DOD FX40B) before the amp to shape the tone: boost mids (e.g., 800Hz-1.6kHz), slightly cut deep lows (<100Hz) for tightness, and roll off extreme highs if needed.
• Play with aggressive downstrokes and consistent palm-muting for rhythmic precision and punch.
• Ensure your guitar's volume and tone knobs are typically set to maximum.

Recommended Gear

• Custom Stratocaster-style guitar with EMG 81 bridge pickup(guitar)
• Marshall JCM800 2205 (50W head)(amp)
• MXR M101 Phase 90(pedal)
• DOD FX40B Equalizer (or MXR M109S Six Band EQ as a modern alternative)(pedal)
• Shure SM57(mic)
• DigiTech Whammy V (or original WH-1)(pedal)