GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Holy Wars...The Punishment Due (2004 Remix) Guitar Tone Settings
Megadeth · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Jackson KV Pro Dave Mustaine Signature
Pickups
Bill Lawrence L-500XL (bridge), Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB (neck)
Amp
Marshall 1959SLP (Super Lead Plexi) with Custom Audio Electronics (CAE) 3+ SE preamp and VHT 2150 power amp
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Holy Wars...The Punishment Due' (2004 Remix) uses the original Rust In Peace session gear, not live/touring rigs. Guitar is confirmed from Equipboard and album documentation. Amp setup is based on studio notes and interviews for Rust In Peace era. No evidence of pedal-based distortion; all gain from amp/preamp. 2004 Remix is a remaster/remix of the 1990 studio recording, not a re-recording.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1
Treble7.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- articulate note separation
- crisp attack
- focused low end
- cutting high end
- minimal ambience
- dry, in-your-face
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings found for the 2004 remix; settings estimated based on typical Marshall/CAE/VHT metal tones and era.
- Pedal use for distortion/boost not confirmed for studio recording; all evidence points to amp/preamp gain.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects (delay, chorus, flanger, etc.) in the riff section; tone is dry and tight.
- Pickup configuration inferred from guitar model and typical Megadeth rhythm tone.
- 2004 Remix is a remaster/remix of the original 1990 recording, not a new performance; gear reflects original session.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Megadeth's 'Holy Wars' riff tone is a classic example of late-80s/early-90s thrash: high gain but not maxed, tight bass, heavily scooped mids, bright treble, and boosted presence for clarity. The 2004 remix retains the dry, aggressive character with virtually no reverb, matching Mustaine's typical amp settings for this era and genre.