GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Architect of Pain Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Exodus
Exodus · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or custom shop, as used by Gary Holt on 'Blood In, Blood Out')
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker)
Amp
Kemper Profiler Rack (used for amp modeling on 'Blood In, Blood Out' sessions)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2014. Gary Holt and Lee Altus both used Kemper Profiler Rack for amp tones on 'Blood In, Blood Out'. Exact amp profile not specified, but likely modeled after high-gain Marshall or Mesa/Boogie amps typical for Exodus. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- thick and beefy
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- articulate note separation
- crushing low end
- modern thrash clarity
- chunky rhythm attack
- minimal ambience
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp profile, knob settings, or pedal models for 'Architect of Pain' riff section. Settings estimated based on Kemper Profiler Rack usage, genre, and era-typical Exodus tones.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used in the riff section; Exodus rhythm tones are typically dry and tight.
- Guitar model inferred from Gary Holt's known studio use during 'Blood In, Blood Out' sessions; not explicitly confirmed for this song.
- Pickup type (EMG 81) inferred from Gary Holt's standard Jackson Soloist configuration for this era.
- Amp settings estimated based on high-gain thrash metal conventions and Kemper profiling of Marshall/Mesa amps.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Exodus's 'Architect of Pain' features a late-90s Bay Area thrash tone: high gain, tight but not boomy bass, scooped mids, and aggressive treble/presence for clarity. Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt typically used Mesa/Boogie amps with minimal reverb, matching the genre's dry, cutting rhythm sound.