GuitarDistortedRiff60% confidence
Holy Mountains Riff Guitar Tone Settings — System Of A Down
System Of A Down · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ibanez Iceman IC300
Pickups
Stock Ibanez humbuckers (likely ceramic, high output)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2005-2006 era. Daron Malakian is known to use the Ibanez Iceman and Marshall JCM800 for System of a Down's 'Mezmerize/Hypnotize' sessions. No direct evidence for pedals or alternate amps for this specific song's riff section. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the studio riff.
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass5.5
Gain8.5
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- saturated high-gain
- chunky low end
- slightly scooped mids
- articulate note separation
- modern metal clarity
- fast attack
- compressed dynamics
- minimal ambience
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source confirms exact amp or pedal settings for 'Holy Mountains' riff section; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 use in 2000s metal and Daron Malakian's known rig.
- No evidence of pedals or modulation/time-based effects used in the riff section; distortion is likely amp-based.
- Pickup and amp model inferred from Daron's known studio gear for Mezmerize/Hypnotize era, not from explicit session documentation.
- No evidence of effects loop or additional rack effects for this section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Daron Malakian's tone on 'Holy Mountains' is tight, aggressive, and modern, with high gain for saturated chug and sustain, mids slightly scooped for clarity and heaviness, and a dry, in-your-face production typical of mid-2000s System Of A Down. Bass is controlled for tightness, treble and presence are set to cut through the dense mix.