GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Kissing the Shadows Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP Alexi Laiho Signature (likely ESP Alexi-600 or custom shop variant, as used by Alexi Laiho in 2000 studio recordings)
Pickups
EMG HZ H4 (passive humbucker, bridge position; Alexi's main pickup for solos in this era)
Amp
Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 (used in studio for 'Follow the Reaper' album, 2000)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2000. Alexi Laiho used his ESP signature V with EMG HZ H4 bridge pickup into a Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 head. No evidence of live/touring gear or alternate guitars for this solo. Pickup selector set to bridge. No evidence of additional guitars or amp models for this specific solo.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain9
Reverb1
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
- Noise gate (model unknown) · noise_gate
ESP Alexi Laiho Signature (bridge pickup) → Noise gate → Delay pedal → Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 (minimal digital reverb)
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Tone Character
- tight and saturated
- aggressive and articulate
- singing sustain
- clear note separation
- slightly scooped mids
- bright and cutting
- minimal ambience
- fast attack
- high-gain saturation
- focused and precise
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for this song/solo; settings estimated based on typical Alexi Laiho/Children of Bodom studio tones, genre, and era.
- No explicit source confirms pedal use for this solo; effects inferred from audio and known rig.
- No evidence of modulation effects (chorus, flanger, phaser) or wah in this solo; delay is clearly audible.
- Pickup choice (bridge) inferred from Alexi's known soloing habits and tone characteristics.
- Guitar model based on Alexi's documented studio use in 2000; not directly cited for this song but highly likely.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Alexi Laiho used high-gain Peavey 5150/6505 amps with tight bass, slightly scooped mids, and bright, cutting treble for clarity in fast solos. The solo section is extremely saturated, articulate, and dry, matching modern metal conventions and Laiho's signature tone from this era.