Drag the Waters — Pantera1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedRiff

Drag the Waters Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Pantera

Pantera · 1990s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Washburn Dimebag Darrell Signature (likely Dime 333 or Dime Slime, as used on The Great Southern Trendkill sessions)
Pickups
Bill Lawrence L-500XL bridge humbucker
Amp
Randall RG-100ES head
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1996. Dimebag confirmed use of his old Randall RG-100 head for the album, with Furman PQ-3 parametric EQ, MXR 6-band EQ, and Boss Noise Gate in the signal chain. Effects and settings are for the studio version, not live. No evidence of boost/overdrive pedals for the riff section.

Amp Settings

Mids
4.5
Bass
6
Gain
8.5
Reverb
0
Treble
7.5
Presence
7

Effects Chain

  • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix · flanger
  • Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor (or similar noise gate) · noise_gate
  • Furman PQ-3 Parametric EQ · eq
  • MXR 6-Band Graphic EQ · eq

Guitar → Furman PQ-3 Parametric EQ → Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress (occasional) → Boss Noise Gate → Randall RG-100ES head → MXR 6-Band EQ (in loop or post-preamp)

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • high-gain saturation
  • scooped mids
  • razor-sharp articulation
  • chunky low end
  • aggressive palm muting
  • dry, immediate response
  • minimal ambience
  • modern metal clarity
  • slightly compressed attack

Sources