GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Bored Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Deftones
Deftones · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP M-II Standard (early 90s, black, stock)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan JB (bridge humbucker)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100-watt head, likely into Marshall 4x12 cab)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1995; confirmed by interviews and period photos. No evidence of live rig or alternate gear for this song. No evidence of 7-string or alternate tunings for 'Bored' on Adrenaline. All evidence points to ESP M-II with Seymour Duncan JB into JCM800 for the main riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb0
Treble6.5
Presence6
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive, saturated rhythm
- articulate attack
- chunky low end
- mid-scooped but present
- raw and in-your-face
- minimal ambience
- compressed, focused sound
- cutting upper mids
- no audible modulation or delay
Notes & Caveats
- No direct amp knob settings found for 'Bored' or Adrenaline; settings estimated based on typical JCM800 usage for 90s metal and tone analysis.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used on the riff section; all distortion from amp and pickups.
- No evidence of reverb, delay, or modulation effects in the riff section—confirmed by isolated track analysis and user remaster notes.
- All gear and pickup info confirmed for Adrenaline era, but not for specific takes; high confidence due to lack of alternate reports.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Deftones' 'Bored' riff tone is saturated but not ultra-modern, with a thick, percussive attack and clear note definition typical of late-90s alternative metal. Steph Carpenter used high-gain Mesa/Boogie amps with moderate mids (not scooped), tight bass, and little to no reverb for a dry, punchy sound.