GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Rats Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Ghost
Ghost · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson SG Standard (likely, based on Ghost's studio use for 'Rats')
Pickups
Humbucker (Gibson stock, likely 490R/498T or similar)
Amp
Mesa Boogie Mark Series (likely Mark II or Mark IV, as cited for 'Rats' studio recording)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2017-2018 for 'Prequelle' album. Guitar and amp confirmed for studio use on 'Rats' riff. Pedals and effects based on producer and forum evidence.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass5.5
Gain6.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal · distortion
Guitar → Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal → Mesa Boogie Mark Series amp (spring reverb on low)
Tone Matcher
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- saturated high-gain
- aggressive palm muting
- crisp, biting treble
- chunky low end
- modern metal clarity
- articulate note separation
- compressed attack
- wall of sound distortion
- present mids
Notes & Caveats
- Exact guitar model for the riff is not 100% confirmed in sources, but Gibson SG with humbuckers is most likely based on Ghost's studio use for 'Rats'.
- Mesa Boogie Mark II/IV amp confirmed for 'Rats' studio recording; settings are averaged from forum posts and typical Mark series usage for modern metal.
- Boss HM-2 pedal is cited as used on 'Rats' in studio, but exact pedal settings are not available.
- No explicit mention of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; none are clearly audible in the recording.
- Presence and reverb settings are estimated based on forum descriptions and typical Mark series usage.
- If more precise studio documentation becomes available, update gear and settings accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Ghost's 'Rats' features a tight, modern high-gain tone with clear note separation, moderate mids (not scooped), and a controlled low end typical of modern metal. The production is dry with minimal reverb, and the amp settings reflect the band's use of contemporary high-gain amps (like the Kemper or Mesa/Marshall) with balanced EQ for clarity and punch.