GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Magnolia Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Deafheaven
Deafheaven · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s or reissue, as used by Kerry McCoy in studio for LPWP era)
Pickups
Humbucker (likely stock Gibson pickups, possibly 490R/498T or Burstbuckers)
Amp
EVH 5150 III (primary studio amp for heavy tones on LPWP, per artist interview)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2024 (LPWP era). McCoy states 80% of heavy tones are EVH 5150 III, with some Traynor amps blended for brightness. No evidence of live Quilter/5150 pedal use on studio recording. Guitar is Les Paul Custom, as per artist's known studio rig for this album.
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- high-gain saturation
- articulate chord definition
- aggressive rhythm attack
- wall of sound
- slightly scooped mids
- bright but not harsh
- full-bodied low end
- clear note separation
- minimal ambient effects
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings found; settings estimated based on typical EVH 5150 III usage for modern metal and artist interview statements.
- No explicit pedal models confirmed for the studio recording; distortion is primarily from the amp.
- Pedalboard photos and live rig (Quilter/5150 pedal) are NOT confirmed for the studio recording and are excluded.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; only amp gain and possible light studio reverb.
- Pickup and guitar model inferred from artist's known studio rig for LPWP era; not explicitly stated for 'Magnolia' but highly likely.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Deafheaven's 'Magnolia' riff section features a saturated, modern blackgaze tone: high gain for sustain and aggression, tight bass to avoid muddiness, slightly scooped mids for clarity in dense mixes, present but not harsh treble, and boosted presence for air. Reverb is minimal, as ambience is added in post-production, not at the amp.