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Mascara — Deftones1 / 2
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Mascara Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Deftones

Deftones · 1990s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
ESP Custom 6-string (Stephen Carpenter signature, likely M-II or Horizon style, 1997 spec)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan JB (bridge humbucker), Seymour Duncan '59 (neck humbucker) (as per era interview)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head (studio recording, 1997)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup

Studio recording, 1997 (Around the Fur). Clean section likely used neck pickup. No evidence of pedals for clean tone; amp reverb possible but not confirmed. Settings estimated for clean section based on genre, era, and typical Deftones studio approach.

Amp Settings

Mids
5.5
Bass
6
Gain
0
Reverb
1
Treble
6.5
Presence
5

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Tone Character

  • warm and rounded
  • slightly compressed
  • mid-focused clean
  • not sparkling or glassy
  • no audible breakup
  • subtle amp reverb
  • smooth attack
  • neck pickup fullness
  • not overly bright
  • studio clarity

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
  • ⚠️No direct source confirms exact amp or pedal settings for the clean section of 'Mascara'; settings are estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 clean setup and Deftones' known studio gear from 1997.
  • ⚠️No evidence of chorus, delay, or modulation effects in the clean riff; only mild amp reverb is possible but not confirmed.
  • ⚠️Guitar model inferred from Equipboard and era interviews; pickup choice (neck) inferred from tone description and forum comments.
  • ⚠️Some sources discuss general Deftones tones or live setups, not specifically the clean studio recording of 'Mascara'.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mascara’s riff tone is saturated but not ultra-modern, with a thick, mid-forward character typical of Deftones' Around the Fur era. Stef Carpenter likely used a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier with moderate bass, balanced mids, and restrained treble/presence for warmth and punch, and the production is very dry (no reverb) as was common for 90s alt-metal.

Sources