GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
ecdysis Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Deftones
Deftones · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP Stef B-8 (Stephen Carpenter signature 8-string, likely used on 'Ecdysis' riff)
Pickups
EMG 808 active humbuckers
Amp
Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III (amp modeling, likely using Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier or Peavey 5150 model)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2024 (Private Music album). No direct confirmation for this song, but consistent with Stephen Carpenter's gear for heavy Deftones riff sections in this era. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this specific riff. No evidence of live rig or alternate settings.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb1
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- crushing low end
- scooped midrange
- aggressive palm muting
- modern, saturated distortion
- articulate note definition
- minimal ambience
- focused, punchy rhythm
- dry, in-your-face attack
- extended low frequency response
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source confirms exact guitar, amp, or pedal settings for 'Ecdysis' riff; all gear and settings are estimated based on Stephen Carpenter's known studio rig for this era and genre.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used on this riff section; heavy, dry, high-gain tone is consistent with direct amp modeling (Axe-Fx III) and EMG 808 pickups.
- Settings are inferred from typical modern metal amp models (Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier/Peavey 5150) and Carpenter's public rig rundowns for similar Deftones material.
- No evidence of modulation, delay, or reverb effects in the riff section; reverb setting is minimal for studio ambience only.
- If future interviews or studio footage reveal alternate gear or effects for this track, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Deftones' 'Ecdysis' riff features a saturated, modern metal tone with tight low end, slightly scooped mids, and clear but not harsh highs. Steph Carpenter typically uses high-gain amps (like the Diezel VH4 or Mesa/Peavey 5150), with mids dialed back for heaviness and clarity, minimal reverb for a dry, punchy mix, and presence boosted for articulation.