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Fistful Of Steel Guitar Tone Settings — Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar

Custom 'Arm The Homeless' Electric Guitar

Pickups

EMG single-coil in neck (disguised as humbucker), EMG humbucker in bridge

Amp

Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head

Pickup Position

Neck pickup

Studio recording, 1992. Guitar is Tom Morello's main custom instrument for the debut album. Pickup selection for riff is likely neck (see source 7 for neck pickup's role in riff tone).

Amp Settings

Mids

Bass

Gain

Reverb

Treble

Presence

6.5

Effects Chain

DigiTech Whammy (original WH-1) · modulation
MXR M104 Distortion+ · distortion

Guitar → MXR Distortion+ → DigiTech Whammy (2 oct up) → Marshall JCM800 2205 (Peavey 4x12 cab)

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Tone Character

tight and percussive
motorized, modulated octave sweeps
raw and aggressive
punchy attack
gritty distortion
articulate muted picking
unconventional, experimental effects
mid-forward presence
dynamic response to picking
minimal ambience (dry studio sound)

Notes & Caveats

⚠️No explicit amp knob settings for 'Fistful Of Steel' found; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 usage in 1990s Rage Against the Machine studio context.
⚠️Pickup choice inferred from Guitar World interview (source 7) stating neck pickup used for riff tones on this song.
⚠️No direct evidence of amp reverb or other amp-based effects; JCM800 2205 has reverb, but Morello is known for running it dry.
⚠️Pedal settings not specified in sources; Whammy and Distortion+ are confirmed, flanger is not used in this riff (used in other RATM songs).
⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Tom Morello's 'Fistful Of Steel' riff tone is mid-forward, punchy, and relatively dry, reflecting his typical Marshall JCM800 (sometimes with a Peavey head) settings: moderate-high gain, strong mids, balanced bass/treble, boosted presence for clarity, and no reverb as per the dry, in-your-face 90s production style.