GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Ego Death (feat. Steve Vai) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Polyphia
Polyphia · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ibanez TOD10 Tim Henson Signature Electric Guitar
Pickups
Fishman Fluence Tim Henson Signature (active, humbucker/voiced single-coil modes)
Amp
Neural DSP Quad Cortex (amp modeler, likely using a high-gain Marshall or similar profile)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Fishman Fluence, Voice 1 - Modern Humbucker)
Studio recording, 2022. Tim Henson used his Ibanez TOD10 signature with Fishman Fluence pickups for the main riff section. Amp tone is modeled via Neural DSP Quad Cortex, not a traditional tube amp. No confirmed live rig for this exact section; settings are for the studio recording.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Compressor pedal (model unknown) · compression
- Noise gate (model unknown) · noise_gate
Ibanez TOD10 → Compressor → Noise Gate → Neural DSP Quad Cortex (high-gain amp model, digital reverb)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- articulate note separation
- high-gain saturation
- modern metal clarity
- compressed and punchy
- fast palm-muted chugs
- extended low-end response
- crisp, bright top end
- minimal ambient reverb
- dynamic hybrid picking
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit confirmation of amp model or pedal chain for the riff section; Neural DSP Quad Cortex is confirmed as the main amp modeler for Polyphia's 2022 studio tones.
- Amp settings are estimated based on cited Guitar World settings for Polyphia's heavy tones and typical modern metal amp modeling.
- No explicit pedal models confirmed for the riff section; effects are inferred from audio and artist's known studio practices.
- Fishman Fluence Tim Henson pickups are confirmed for the TOD10, but exact voice (mode) is inferred from typical usage for heavy rhythm.
- Presence setting is estimated based on modern high-gain tone requirements.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Polyphia's 'Ego Death' riff tone is modern, tight, and articulate with high gain but not overly saturated, a tight low end, slightly scooped mids, and pronounced treble/presence for clarity. Reverb is minimal, as the production is dry and focused for technical precision.