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Necropolis Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Black Dahlia Murder
The Black Dahlia Murder · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Jackson USA Custom Shop Kelly (likely with Seymour Duncan Custom-Wound Bridge Humbucker)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Custom-Wound Bridge Humbucker
Amp
Peavey 5150/6505 (studio recording era, 2007-2008)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Nocturnal' (2007-2008). Gear confirmed for era, but not for this specific song. Jackson Kelly with bridge humbucker is most likely for rhythm/riff. Peavey 5150/6505 is the classic amp for this album's tone. No evidence of live rig or modern pedals being used on the original recording.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain9
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Maxon OD808 Overdrive · overdrive
- ISP Decimator Noise Reduction · noise_gate
Jackson Kelly (bridge humbucker) → Maxon OD808 Overdrive → ISP Decimator Noise Reduction → Peavey 5150/6505 amp head → cabinet
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- articulate low end
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- sharp, cutting attack
- ferocious and precise
- melodic yet brutal
- punchy rhythm
- clear note separation
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source confirms the exact amp or pedal settings for 'Necropolis' studio recording; settings are estimated based on genre, era, and typical Peavey 5150/6505 usage in 2007-2008.
- Pedals listed in Equipboard are from Brandon Ellis's modern live rig and not relevant to the original 'Necropolis' studio recording.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects (delay, chorus, flanger, etc.) in the riff section; only high-gain rhythm tone is present.
- No evidence of reverb used on the amp or as a pedal for the riff section; studio ambience is likely from mixing, not from the guitarist's effects chain.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The Black Dahlia Murder's 'Necropolis' features a modern, ultra-high-gain tone with tight low end, slightly scooped but not hollow mids, and aggressive, cutting treble/presence for clarity in fast riffing. The band typically used Peavey 5150/6505 amps with minimal reverb and settings that emphasize attack and note separation, matching genre conventions for melodic death metal of the late 2000s.