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Protomech Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Fear Factory
Fear Factory · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ibanez RG2228 8-String
Pickups
EMG 808 active humbuckers
Amp
Peavey 5150 II
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'The Industrialist' album (2012). Dino Cazares is known to use Ibanez RG 8-strings with EMG 808s and Peavey 5150/6505 amps for Fear Factory's modern riff tones. No direct source confirms the exact amp settings for 'Protomech', but this is the most documented rig for this era and album. No evidence of additional pedals for the main riff section; tone is extremely tight and dry, typical of Fear Factory's industrial metal rhythm sound.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain9
Reverb0
Treble6.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Noise Gate (model unknown) · noise_gate
Ibanez RG2228 8-String → Noise Gate → Peavey 5150 II (no effects loop, amp reverb off)
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- dry and focused
- scooped mids
- high-gain saturation
- articulate attack
- machine-like precision
- very low noise floor
- crushing low end
- no ambience
- fast note tracking
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp or pedal settings for 'Protomech' riff; settings estimated based on typical Fear Factory rig for 'The Industrialist' era and genre conventions.
- No evidence of pedals or amp effects used for the main riff section; signal is extremely dry and tight, matching Dino Cazares's known approach.
- Guitar and amp model confirmed for album, but not for this specific song section; however, this is the most likely setup for the riff.
- No evidence of effects loop or modulation/time-based effects in the riff section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Fear Factory's 'Protomech' features Dino Cazares' signature ultra-tight, high-gain rhythm tone typical of late 2010s industrial metal, likely using a boosted Rectifier or 5150 with mids slightly scooped, tight bass, bright but not harsh treble, high presence for clarity, and a completely dry (no reverb) production for maximum precision.