GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
killing in the name Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Unknown Artist
Unknown Artist · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Telecaster (Mexican Standard, c. 1991-1992)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (stock Telecaster pickups)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2205 50-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1991-1992. Tom Morello used his Mexican Telecaster for the main riff, plugged into a Marshall JCM800 2205 head and 4x12 cab. No evidence of additional preamp pedals or amp channel switching for the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- big, crunchy sound
- tight and percussive
- clear note separation
- raw and direct
- aggressive attack
- minimal effects coloration
- slightly scooped but present mids
- articulate single-coil clarity
- British crunch
- no excessive gain or fuzz
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp knob settings found in sources; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 usage for 1990s alternative rock and confirmed gear.
- Pedal and effects information is for the riff section only; the Whammy pedal and modulation effects are not used in the main riff.
- All sources confirm Telecaster and JCM800 for the riff, but some sources reference general RATM gear rather than this specific recording.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The riff in 'Killing in the Name' by Rage Against the Machine features Tom Morello's signature crunchy, mid-forward tone, typically achieved with a Marshall JCM800 set to moderate-high gain, balanced bass, pronounced mids, and clear treble/presence. The recording is dry with no audible reverb, matching 90s alt-metal production.