GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Poison Was the Cure Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Megadeth
Megadeth · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Jackson Kelly KE1 (Marty Friedman signature, 1990, likely used on Rust in Peace)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan TB-4 JB (bridge humbucker), Seymour Duncan SH-1 '59 (neck humbucker)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, studio recording era)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1990, Rust in Peace album. Friedman was known to use his Jackson signature with Seymour Duncan pickups and Marshall JCM800 amps for solos on this album. No direct source confirms pedal use for this solo, but this is the most documented setup for the era and album.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass5.5
Gain8
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Noise Gate (model unknown) · noise_gate
Jackson Kelly KE1 → Noise Gate (if used) → Marshall JCM800 2203 (with low spring reverb)
Tone Matcher
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- singing sustain
- razor-sharp attack
- articulate note separation
- high-gain saturation
- cutting lead presence
- metallic edge
- fast alternate picking clarity
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source confirms the exact pedal or amp settings for the solo section of 'Poison Was the Cure'; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 usage in 1990s thrash metal and known Friedman gear from the Rust in Peace era.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects (delay, chorus, flanger, etc.) on the solo; if any are present, they are subtle and not clearly audible in the recording.
- No explicit mention of effects loop usage or pedal order for this specific solo.
- Pickup choice inferred from typical metal solo tone and Friedman's known use of bridge humbucker for solos.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Megadeth's 'Poison Was the Cure' solo section features a classic early 90s thrash tone: high gain, tight low end, heavily scooped mids, and bright, cutting treble. Dave Mustaine typically used a Marshall or modified Marshall-type amp with mids dialed back, presence and treble boosted for clarity, and little to no reverb for a dry, aggressive sound.