GuitarCleanRiff80% confidence
Aerials Riff Guitar Tone Settings — System Of A Down
System Of A Down · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson SG (likely 1962 Les Paul SG Standard, as used by Daron Malakian in studio)
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JMP 100-watt head (Dave Friedman-modded, as per studio era)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, Toxicity album (2001). Clean tone for riff/verse section. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for clean part. Gear confirmed for this era and album, but no explicit studio photo for clean section.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb1.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- clear and bell-like
- warm and smooth
- full-bodied
- articulate and dynamic
- slight natural reverb
- no audible distortion
- no modulation effects
- responsive to picking
- studio clarity
- slightly rounded highs
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct source specifies amp knob settings for the clean section of 'Aerials'; values estimated based on typical Marshall JMP clean settings for this genre/era.
- No studio photos or interviews confirm exact pickup selector position for clean part; neck pickup inferred from tone and artist's known preferences.
- No evidence of pedals or modulation effects used on the clean riff; reverb level estimated as moderate based on studio sound.
- If future evidence shows a different guitar or amp for the clean section, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Daron Malakian's tone on 'Aerials' is modern high-gain but not overly saturated, with a tight low end, balanced mids (not scooped), and clear but not harsh treble—typical for early 2000s alt-metal. The tone is dry with little to no reverb, matching both the genre and the album's production style.