GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Holy Wars... The Punishment Due Guitar Tone Settings — Megadeth
Megadeth · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Jackson Kelly (USA, black, one humbucker, as seen in 'Holy Wars...The Punishment Due' video, Marty Friedman solo section)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan TB-4 JB (bridge humbucker, likely for solo section)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head (studio, 1990, Rust In Peace sessions)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1990. Marty Friedman solo section. Guitar confirmed via video and Equipboard. Amp confirmed via Equipboard and era-typical usage. No evidence of live/touring gear or later signature models used on this recording.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Jackson Kelly (bridge pickup) → Delay pedal (model unknown) → Marshall JCM800 2203 head (minimal spring reverb) → cab
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Tone Character
- tight and articulate
- high-gain saturation
- aggressive pick attack
- singing sustain
- slightly scooped mids
- bright and cutting highs
- tight low end
- minimal reverb for clarity
- fast alternate picking clarity
- metal solo articulation
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings found for the solo section; values estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 usage for 1990s thrash metal and genre conventions.
- Pedal/effects model for delay is not confirmed in sources; delay is clearly audible in the solo, so included as 'Delay pedal (model unknown)'.
- Exact pickup model on Marty's Jackson Kelly is inferred from era and typical Friedman setup; not explicitly confirmed for this specific recording.
- No evidence of chorus, flanger, or other modulation effects in the solo section; only delay and minimal reverb are present.
- No evidence of additional boost/overdrive pedals in Marty's chain for this solo; high-gain comes from amp and pickups.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Megadeth's 'Holy Wars' solo section features a tight, aggressive, and articulate 80s thrash tone, likely from a modded Marshall or similar amp with high gain, scooped mids, tight bass, and cutting treble/presence; the production is dry with little to no reverb, matching genre and era conventions.