GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Sad Statue Riff Guitar Tone Settings — System Of A Down
System Of A Down · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson SG (likely 1962 reissue, as used by Daron Malakian on Mezmerize)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock, likely '57 Classics or similar PAF-style)
Amp
Marshall JMP100 (100-watt, one channel stock, one channel modded for extra gain)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2004 (Mezmerize sessions). Guitar World confirms the SG and JMP100 were used for distorted tones on the album. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for this song's riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence6
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- saturated high-gain distortion
- articulate note separation
- focused low end
- midrange punch
- minimal ambience
- fast attack
- clear pick definition
- dry, unprocessed sound
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source provides exact amp knob settings for 'Sad Statue'; settings are estimated based on typical Marshall JMP100 usage for 2000s metal and Daron's described tone.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used on the riff section; all sources and isolated tracks indicate a dry, amp-only high-gain tone.
- Guitar and amp models are confirmed for Mezmerize sessions, but pickup type is inferred from standard SG configuration.
- No evidence of reverb, delay, or modulation effects on the riff section; all effects listed for the album are used on other songs or clean/solo sections.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Daron Malakian's tone on 'Sad Statue' is a tight, modern metal sound with high gain, moderately scooped mids, tight bass, and pronounced treble/presence for clarity. The production is dry with little to no reverb, matching SOAD's mid-2000s metal style and his typical Mesa/Boogie Rectifier amp settings.