GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Natural Born Killer Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Schecter Synyster Gates Custom
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader (bridge), Sustainiac (neck)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2010 (Nightmare album). Gear confirmed for album era and riff sections by Premier Guitar and Equipboard. Settings inferred from high-gain channel settings for 'Nightmare' era. No evidence of additional pedals for distortion in riff section; relies on amp gain.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass5.5
Gain9
Reverb1.5
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor · noise_gate
- Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer · compression
Schecter Synyster Gates Custom → Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer → Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor → Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (slight digital reverb)
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- chunky low end
- focused mids
- cutting treble
- articulate pick response
- modern metal clarity
- minimal ambience
- fast attack
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact pedal models or amp settings for 'Natural Born Killer' riff, but settings are inferred from 'Nightmare' album era and high-gain channel settings cited for similar tracks.
- No evidence of additional distortion/overdrive pedals for the riff section; distortion is from amp.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; tone is dry and tight.
- Pickup choice inferred from genre and Synyster Gates' typical usage for rhythm/metal riffs.
- Presence and reverb settings estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier usage for modern metal.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance use high-gain, tight modern metal tones with moderate bass, slightly scooped mids, and pronounced treble/presence for clarity and aggression. The production is dry and punchy, matching genre conventions and their typical amp settings (e.g., Peavey 6505/EVH 5150).