GuitarCleanRiff
Sugar (Clean Version) Guitar Tone Settings — System Of A Down
System Of A Down · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ibanez Iceman IC300
Pickups
Stock Ibanez humbuckers (likely Powersound or V7/V8, ceramic magnet, passive)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, 1997 era)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1997. Daron Malakian used an Ibanez Iceman IC300 with stock humbuckers for the debut album. The amp was a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, which was the core of his studio sound for 'Sugar'. No evidence of pedal use for the clean riff section; tone is amp-driven. Friedman BE-100s are used live in later years, but not on the original recording.
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb1
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- clear and articulate
- fast attack
- slightly scooped mids
- bright but not harsh
- direct and in-your-face
- no audible breakup
- no modulation or time-based effects
- dry, uncompressed
- focused single-note clarity