GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Side of a Bullet Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nickelback
Nickelback · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Dean Z X
Pickups
Humbuckers (likely stock Dean or DMT Design, high output)
Amp
Randall amplifier (exact model unknown, likely Randall Warhead or similar high-gain model, as Dimebag Darrell's tone was referenced and emulated)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2005 (All the Right Reasons album). Guitarist Ryan Peake used a Dean Z X for the riff section. Amp model not explicitly confirmed, but multiple sources and Chad Kroeger interviews reference emulating Dimebag Darrell's Randall amp tone for this track. No evidence of live-specific gear for the studio recording.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb0.5
Treble7.5
Presence7
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- chunky low end
- razor-sharp high end
- modern metal saturation
- articulate note separation
- minimal ambience
- high output, saturated distortion
- inspired by Dimebag Darrell's Randall amp tone
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source gives exact amp model or settings; amp and settings are estimated based on Chad Kroeger's explicit reference to Dimebag Darrell's Randall amp tone and genre/era conventions.
- No pedal or effect is confirmed by sources for the riff section; settings are inferred from the audible tone and genre norms.
- Pickup type and selector inferred from guitar model and typical metal rhythm practices.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; only high-gain amp distortion is clearly audible.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Nickelback's 'Side of a Bullet' features a tight, modern metal tone with aggressive high gain, slightly scooped mids, and pronounced treble/presence for clarity and attack. The bass is kept tight to avoid muddiness, and the production is very dry, matching both the band's typical Mesa/Peavey amp use and 2000s post-grunge/metal production trends.