GuitarDistortedRiff60% confidence
Revelations (2015 Remaster) Guitar Tone Settings — Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, as used by Dave Murray and Adrian Smith on Piece of Mind)
Pickups
DiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge), DiMarzio PAF (neck) – Stratocaster with humbucker in bridge position
Amp
Marshall 50-watt JMP (likely 2203 or 2204 head) with Marshall cabinets (Celestion and EV speakers)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (humbucker)
Studio recording, 1983 Piece of Mind sessions. Both Dave Murray and Adrian Smith used Stratocasters with DiMarzio humbuckers in the bridge, running into Marshall JMP 50-watt heads and 4x12 cabinets. Effects were minimal for rhythm/riff sections; most distortion from amp. No evidence of boost or drive pedals for riff. Pickup choice: bridge humbucker. No chorus, delay, or flanger audible in riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive British crunch
- articulate attack
- slightly scooped mids
- bright and cutting treble
- full-bodied power chord sound
- minimal ambience
- focused, compressed distortion
- classic 1980s metal rhythm
- fast note definition
Notes & Caveats
- No direct studio documentation of exact knob settings for 'Revelations' riff; amp and pickup info based on period interviews and typical Piece of Mind-era setups.
- Settings estimated based on Marshall JMP 50-watt usage for 1983 studio rhythm tones and forum consensus for Iron Maiden rhythm tone.
- No evidence of boost/overdrive pedals or modulation/time-based effects on riff section; all distortion from amp.
- Reverb is likely from studio room or mixing, not amp or pedal; included at low level for realism.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Adrian Smith and Dave Murray used Marshall JCM800s with moderate gain and prominent mids for the classic Maiden sound; 'Revelations' (from 'Piece of Mind', 1983) features a crunchy, mid-forward British tone with tight lows, clear but not harsh highs, and very little reverb, matching both the band's era and genre conventions.