GuitarDistortedRiff60% confidence
Leprosy Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Death
Death · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
B.C. Rich Stealth (custom, early model, likely DiMarzio X2N bridge pickup)
Pickups
DiMarzio X2N (bridge humbucker)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2210
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1988. All evidence points to the JCM800 2210 head with a Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal for the album 'Leprosy'. No evidence of Valvestate or other amps for this era. Pickup is almost certainly the DiMarzio X2N in the bridge position, as used by Chuck Schuldiner on Leprosy. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass5.5
Gain8.5
Reverb0
Treble7.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Boss DS-1 Distortion · distortion
B.C. Rich Stealth (bridge DiMarzio X2N) → Boss DS-1 Distortion → Marshall JCM800 2210 head → Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- razor-sharp attack
- articulate note separation
- crushing rhythm tone
- focused low end
- minimal ambience
- classic late-80s death metal
Notes & Caveats
- No direct studio knob settings for Leprosy found; amp settings estimated based on typical JCM800 usage for late-80s death metal and forum discussions.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects (delay, chorus, flanger, etc.) on the riff section; only distortion pedal (Boss DS-1) confirmed.
- Guitar model and pickup inferred from multiple sources referencing Chuck's B.C. Rich Stealth with DiMarzio X2N during Leprosy era.
- Presence and reverb settings estimated; JCM800 2210 has presence, but reverb is typically off for this genre and era.
- If more precise studio documentation emerges, settings may need revision.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Death's 'Leprosy' (1988) features a classic late-80s Florida death metal tone: high gain, tight low end, heavily scooped mids, and bright, cutting treble, likely achieved with a Marshall or Randall amp and no reverb for a dry, aggressive sound. These settings reflect genre conventions and the band's known gear and production style from this era.