GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
I Am the Black Wizards (Live) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Emperor
Emperor · 2000s · metal
live
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP Eclipse
Pickups
EMG active pickups (likely EMG 81/85 set)
Amp
Engl Powerball E 645
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Live performance, post-2006 reunion era; Samoth and Ihsahn both used Engl Powerball amps and ESP/Ibanez guitars with EMG pickups for live shows. No pedals used; straight into amp. Settings estimated for live black metal context as no numeric values are given.
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass6
Gain9
Reverb1
Treble7.5
Presence7
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Tone Character
- buzz-saw guitar texture
- tight and percussive
- high-gain saturation
- powerful and sustained
- bottom-end emphasis
- aggressive palm muting
- slightly scooped mids
- bright and cutting treble
- dense wall of sound
- minimal clarity due to high gain
Notes & Caveats
- No specific numeric amp settings found; values estimated based on Engl Powerball typical usage for live black metal and artist comments.
- Pedals explicitly stated as not used for live Emperor shows; all effects from amp or FOH.
- Reverb and delay described as 'overdone' in early studio context, but for live Powerball era, minimal reverb likely used.
- Pickup model not explicitly stated, but ESP Eclipse stock is EMG 81/85 set; confirmed active EMGs in interview.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Emperor's 'I Am the Black Wizards (Live)' features a raw, extremely high-gain black metal tone with tight low end, slightly scooped mids, and pronounced treble/presence for clarity in the dense mix. Live, they use little to no reverb for maximum aggression and articulation, matching typical 90s Norwegian black metal amp settings.