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Swerve City Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Deftones
Deftones · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP STEF B-8 (Stephen Carpenter signature 8-string, likely baritone scale, used on Koi No Yokan album)
Pickups
EMG 808 active humbuckers
Amp
Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II (amp modeling, likely using a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier or Peavey 5150 model for high-gain rhythm)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2012 (Koi No Yokan). Stephen Carpenter used his ESP STEF B-8 with EMG 808s for the main riff. The Axe-Fx II was used for amp/cab/effects modeling in the studio. No evidence of live/touring rig or other guitars/amps for this part.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain8
Reverb1
Treble6.5
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive high-gain saturation
- articulate note separation
- slightly scooped mids
- crushing low-end
- focused palm muting
- modern metal clarity
- minimal ambience
- clear pick attack
- dry, immediate response
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for 'Swerve City'; values estimated based on typical high-gain Axe-Fx II/Mesa/Peavey settings for Deftones' 2010s studio tones.
- No explicit confirmation of pedals or effects for this riff; all evidence and audio analysis indicate a dry, high-gain rhythm tone with no audible modulation or time-based effects.
- All gear and effects information is specific to the studio recording of 'Swerve City' riff section, not live or other songs.
- Pickup selector inferred as bridge based on tone and typical Deftones rhythm approach.
- If future evidence emerges of a different amp model or pedal in the studio, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Swerve City features a tight, modern, high-gain tone typical of Deftones' Chino Moreno/Stephen Carpenter era, with aggressive saturation, slightly scooped mids, tight bass, and clear but not harsh highs; the production is very dry with almost no reverb, matching genre and band conventions for this period.