Hail to the King Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Studio recording, 2013. Synyster Gates' signature Schecter guitar and Hellwin amp were used for the 'Hail to the King' album, as confirmed by interviews and rig rundowns. Clean tone settings are referenced from published amp setting guides for Synyster's clean channel. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the clean solo section.
Amp Settings
Effects Chain
- Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer · compression
Schecter Synyster Gates Custom → Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer → Schecter Hellwin Stage 100 (clean channel, spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- bright and clear
- slight mid-boost for body
- articulate and present
- minimal gain for clarity
- studio-polished clean
- no audible breakup
- percussive attack
- warm but not muddy
- modern metal clean
- dynamic response
Playing Technique
- Match attack across every string · difficulty 4/5Use the same shallow pick depth when crossing strings and let compression handle only small differences. A clean modern-metal tone reveals one string that is struck harder than the rest.
- End sustained notes cleanly · difficulty 3/5Mute with the picking hand at the intended cutoff instead of letting notes decay into the next phrase. Precise endings preserve the deliberate space that defines this slower album era.
- Keep vibrato narrow and centered · difficulty 4/5Move evenly around the pitch after the note has settled. Wide blues vibrato can sound stylistically detached here; a controlled pulse keeps the polished, serious character intact.
- Let the reverb follow the phrase · difficulty 3/5Leave a small gap after longer notes so the tail adds depth, then mute before the next entrance. Playing through every decay makes the clean section cloudy and reduces its contrast with the heavy guitars.
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
- Style and eraThe 2013 album slowed Avenged Sevenfold's attack and pursued a darker, classic-metal scale built on deliberate space rather than constant speed.
- Synyster Gates's controlKnown for technical lead work, Gates also uses exact attack and sustain so cleaner details retain authority beside Zacky Vengeance's rhythm role.
- Why a clean solo voice mattersLight compression and restrained reverb keep notes even and dimensional without turning the section into an ambient detour.
- Why the contrast worksA clear reference point makes the returning heavy guitars feel wider and more imposing instead of merely louder.
What Fans Are Saying About This Tone?
The most-liked welcome assumes this is never a listener's first return to the song.
Vote your takeFans turn the track's volume into a joke about who is really in charge at work.
Vote your takeAnother favorite reaction says listening loudly makes the neighbors part of the audience too.
Vote your takeA longtime metal listener called the opening exceptionally strong and the song solid from start to finish.
Vote your takeFans joke that Avenged Sevenfold proved an entire song can be built around lead-guitar drama.
Vote your take