Entombed Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Deftones
Deftones · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Studio recording, 2010s (Diamond Eyes/Koi No Yokan era). Stephen Carpenter used Axe-Fx II with custom Marshall JMP-1/EL34 100/100-based patches for Deftones studio work. ESP 7-string baritone with EMG active pickups is confirmed for this era. Pedalboard includes Xotic SP Compressor and various modulation/time-based effects, but solo effects must be confirmed by audio or explicit source.
Amp Settings
Effects Chain
- Xotic SP Compressor · compression
ESP Stephen Carpenter 7-string → Xotic SP Compressor → Fractal Axe-Fx II (Marshall JMP-1/EL34 100/100 patch, digital reverb) → Studio monitors
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Tone Character
- tight, saturated high-gain
- extended low-end response
- clear note separation
- singing sustain
- slightly compressed attack
- modern metal clarity
- articulate pick attack
- controlled feedback
- focused midrange
- minimal ambience
Playing Technique
- Keep the right hand economical · difficulty 3/5Use small alternate-picking motions and let the extended-range instrument provide the low-end scale. Large strokes create noise and make the high-gain sustain harder to control.
- Mute below and above the target string · difficulty 3/5Use the picking-hand palm for the lower strings and the index finger for higher-string noise. Seven-string gain reveals every sympathetic vibration between solo phrases.
- Shape the sustain with vibrato · difficulty 3/5Start the note cleanly, then widen the vibrato only after the pitch is stable. The phrase should bloom gradually, matching the tone’s controlled-feedback character.
- Use less ambience than you expect · difficulty 2/5Keep reverb short and the delay mix low enough that the initial pick remains clear. The size should come from the instrument, tuning, and amp response before time-based effects are added.
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
- 2010s DeftonesEntombed belongs to the Diamond Eyes / Koi No Yokan-era Deftones palette: heavy, spacious, and emotionally atmospheric rather than merely aggressive.
- Stephen Carpenter’s voiceCarpenter combines extended-range precision, low tuning, and unusually patient melodic space, making weight and atmosphere work together.
- 7-string evidenceThe page points to an ESP Stephen Carpenter-style 7-string, EMG active pickups, Axe-Fx II / Marshall-style high gain, and restrained compression/reverb.
- Why the solo worksFocused mids preserve the line while controlled feedback and minimal ambience let the sustain feel cinematic instead of blurry.
What Fans Are Saying About This Tone?
There’s something ethereal about this song that I can’t explain
Vote your taketapping through that whole song maintaining consistency is not that easy in my opinion. very creative
Vote your takeFew songs as beautiful as this one. All the elements of what makes Deftones are here on full, artistic display.
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