GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Break Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ibanez SZ320
Pickups
Ibanez SZ humbuckers (likely Seymour Duncan/Ibanez designed, ceramic, high output)
Amp
Diezel VH4 (Channel 3, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Break' (2009, 'Life Starts Now' album). Barry Stock is confirmed to use Ibanez SZ320 and Diezel VH4 for main riffs in this era. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this section. No explicit pedal use for the main riff in studio context.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive attack
- clear note definition under high gain
- modern, saturated distortion
- focused low end
- slightly scooped but present mids
- articulate palm muting
- crisp, cutting treble
- minimal ambience/reverb
- punchy, rhythmic drive
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit numeric amp settings for 'Break' found; settings estimated based on Diezel VH4 typical usage for modern rock/metal and genre/era conventions.
- No direct evidence of pedals or effects used on the main riff in the studio recording; all effects inferred from audio and typical practices.
- Pickup model inferred from Ibanez SZ320 stock configuration for this era; not 100% confirmed if aftermarket pickups were installed.
- Presence and reverb settings estimated; Diezel VH4 is known for tight, focused high-gain tones with minimal reverb in studio rhythm tracks.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Three Days Grace's 'Break' features a modern, aggressive hard rock tone with tight, saturated distortion, controlled low end, balanced mids, and a clear but not overly bright top end. The band typically used Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifiers and EMG pickups during this era, favoring a dry, punchy sound with minimal reverb and a presence boost for clarity.