GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Forest Riff Guitar Tone Settings — System Of A Down
System Of A Down · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ibanez Iceman IC300 (likely, as used by Daron Malakian on Toxicity era recordings)
Pickups
Stock Ibanez humbuckers (ceramic, high output, likely Powersound or V7/V8)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 2001 era)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2001. Daron Malakian used the Ibanez Iceman IC300 and Marshall JCM800 for most of Toxicity. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section. No evidence of live gear or alternate setups for this song's studio recording.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- scooped but present mids
- high-gain saturation
- articulate attack
- chunky low end
- minimal ambience
- focused, dry sound
- modern metal clarity
- fast, staccato riffing
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for 'Forest'; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 usage for early 2000s metal and Daron Malakian's known rig.
- No pedal or effect usage is confirmed for the riff section; no audible modulation, delay, or reverb in the recording.
- Guitar model inferred from era and photographic evidence; no explicit studio session documentation found.
- Pickup type and selector position inferred from genre, tone, and Daron's typical usage.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Daron Malakian's tone on 'Forest' is tight, aggressive, and modern, with high gain but not overly scooped mids, reflecting his Mesa/Boogie Rectifier usage and the early 2000s nu-metal/alt-metal production style. The low reverb and balanced EQ (tight bass, present mids, slightly boosted treble/presence) match the punchy, articulate sound of the riff section.