GuitarDistortedRiff
South of Heaven (Early Version / Jeff Hanneman's Home Recording) Guitar Tone Settings
Slayer · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP Custom (Hanneman's early model, likely Strat-style, as used in home demos)
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge), EMG 85 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JCM800
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio home demo recording, 1986-1987 era; settings and gear based on Guitar World and period interviews. No evidence of pedals or rack effects in this early home demo; signal chain is guitar direct to amp. Settings are for studio/home recording, not live.
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass3.5
Gain7.5
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- focused midrange punch
- metallic, biting attack
- high-gain saturation
- articulate, defined chugs
- minimal ambience
- scooped low bass for clarity
- high-output active pickup clarity
- fast alternate picking response