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Dead Souls — Nine Inch Nails1 / 2
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Dead Souls Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely early 1990s, possibly black finish, as seen in NIN's 1994-1995 era studio/live photos)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock Les Paul Standard pickups, likely 490R/498T or similar)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 (model not explicitly confirmed for 'Dead Souls', but consistent with NIN's 1994-1995 studio/live rig and genre/era conventions)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording for The Crow soundtrack, 1994. Gear inferred from era, typical NIN studio/live setups, and genre. No explicit studio documentation for this song's exact amp/pedal chain found in sources.

Amp Settings

Mids
5
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Fuzz/Distortion pedal (model unknown, likely Big Muff, Rat, or similar) · fuzz

Guitar → Fuzz/Distortion pedal (model unknown) → Marshall JCM800 (with light spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • aggressive and saturated
  • compressed and fuzzy
  • brassy and edgy
  • tight and percussive attack
  • clear note definition despite heavy gain
  • industrial wall of sound
  • chunky riffing texture
  • not muddy, retains clarity
  • slightly scooped mids
  • high output, modern rock feel

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio documentation of exact amp/pedal chain for 'Dead Souls' riff found; gear and settings inferred from era, genre, and typical NIN 1994-1995 setups.
  • ⚠️Pedal/effect models not explicitly confirmed for this song; fuzz/distortion is clearly audible but specific pedal unknown.
  • ⚠️Settings estimated based on Marshall JCM800 conventions for industrial/alt-rock in the 1990s.
  • ⚠️Pickup choice inferred from typical Les Paul bridge pickup use for aggressive riffing in this genre/era.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The 'Dead Souls' riff tone is high gain but not ultra-modern, with a tight, aggressive attack and slight mid-scoop typical of 90s industrial/alt-metal. Bass is controlled for clarity, mids are slightly reduced for that cold, industrial feel, treble and presence are pushed for bite and cut, and reverb is minimal for a dry, direct sound.

Sources