GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Sugar (Clean Version) Guitar Tone Settings — System Of A Down
System Of A Down · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ibanez Iceman IC100
Pickups
Ibanez stock humbuckers (likely ceramic, high output)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1997; confirmed for System of a Down's self-titled album. No evidence of live/tour substitutions for this song/section.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass5.5
Gain8
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer · overdrive
Ibanez Iceman IC100 → Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer → Marshall JCM800 2203 (light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- chunky and saturated
- articulate pick attack
- focused midrange punch
- slightly scooped mids
- minimal ambience
- dry, direct amp sound
- modern metal clarity
- high output, compressed
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings found for 'Sugar (Clean Version)' riff; settings estimated based on Marshall JCM800 usage in 1990s metal context and typical SOAD tones.
- Ibanez Iceman IC100 confirmed for album era, but exact pickup model not specified in sources.
- No evidence of modulation or time-based effects in the riff section; pedal use inferred from genre and source consensus.
- Delay pedal mentioned in one forum post, but not audibly present in the riff section—excluded from effects_used.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Daron Malakian's tone on 'Sugar' is tight, aggressive, and mid-forward, with high gain and minimal reverb, typical of late-90s alt-metal. His Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier settings favor a balanced but punchy EQ (not scooped), with enough presence and treble for cut, but not harshness.