TonesMatch
Empty Words — Death1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

Empty Words Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Death

Death · 1990s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
B.C. Rich Stealth (custom, fixed bridge, likely black finish)
Pickups
DiMarzio DP102 X2N (humbucker, high output)
Amp
Marshall Valvestate 8100 head and cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1995. Chuck Schuldiner stated he used a Marshall Valvestate head and cab with no pedals except a little chorus on leads. No distortion pedal used for this era; direct into amp. Source confirms this setup for 'Symbolic' album sessions.

Amp Settings

Mids
5
Bass
6
Gain
8
Reverb
1
Treble
7
Presence
6.5

Effects Chain

  • Chorus pedal (model unknown) · chorus

B.C. Rich Stealth → Chorus pedal (model unknown, only for solo) → Marshall Valvestate 8100 head and cabinet

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Tone Character

  • tight and articulate
  • singing sustain
  • slightly scooped mids
  • bright and cutting
  • minimal reverb
  • chorus-enhanced width
  • percussive pick attack
  • fluid legato
  • clear note separation
  • aggressive high-gain saturation

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No specific numeric amp settings found in sources; settings estimated based on typical Marshall Valvestate 8100 usage in 1990s death metal and Chuck's stated approach.
  • ⚠️Chorus effect confirmed by Chuck for leads, but exact pedal or amp model not specified.
  • ⚠️No evidence of delay, wah, or other effects in solo; chorus is audible and cited.
  • ⚠️Pickup position inferred from genre and tone (bridge pickup for lead/solo).
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Chuck Schuldiner's tone on 'Empty Words' (Symbolic era) is high-gain but tight, with slightly scooped mids, clear treble for articulation, and a dry, in-your-face production typical of mid-90s Florida death metal. The amp (likely a Marshall Valvestate or similar) would be set for clarity and aggression, with minimal reverb.

Sources