GuitarDistortedRiff
Dance of Death Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (Dave Murray or Janick Gers signature or Custom Shop, as used in studio for Dance of Death era)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Hot Rails (bridge), Seymour Duncan JB Jr. (neck and bridge for Janick Gers), stock single coils or stacked humbuckers for Dave Murray
Amp
Marshall JMP 2204 Mk II Master Lead 50w (studio, Dance of Death era)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (humbucker or Hot Rails/stacked humbucker)
Studio recording, 2003. All three guitarists (Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers) tracked rhythm/riff parts, but main riff tone is most associated with Stratocaster into Marshall JMP 2204. No evidence of live rig or other amp types for the studio rhythm tone.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass5.5
Gain7
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- crunchy and aggressive
- tight and percussive
- articulate attack
- layered harmonies
- robust and dynamic
- sharp pick attack
- melodic yet heavy
- slightly scooped mids but not hollow
- clear note separation
- minimal ambience