GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Teenagers Riff Guitar Tone Settings — My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance · 2000s · punk
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Epiphone Les Paul Custom (Ray Toro, studio recording)
Pickups
Epiphone Alnico Classic Humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 (studio recording, 2006)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Teenagers' (2006, The Black Parade). Ray Toro used his Epiphone Les Paul Custom with stock humbuckers into a Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 head and Marshall 1960A 4x12 cab. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the main riff section. Frank Iero played rhythm on a Gibson Les Paul Studio through a Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 for the same session, but Ray's lead/riff tone is the focus here.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and focused
- crunchy and saturated
- punchy midrange
- clear note separation
- articulate palm-muted chugs
- slightly compressed
- modern punk rock edge
- minimal ambience
- dry and direct
- aggressive attack
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source gives exact amp knob settings for 'Teenagers' studio recording; settings estimated based on Marshall JCM2000 typical usage for 2000s punk/rock and genre conventions.
- No evidence of pedals or modulation/time-based effects on the riff section; all effects listed are based on critical listening and gear research.
- Guitar and amp models confirmed for studio recording via multiple interviews and rig rundowns, but pickup selector and knob settings inferred from typical usage and tone analysis.
- If new evidence emerges of pedals or effects used on the studio recording, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The 'Teenagers' riff uses a crunchy, mid-forward tone typical of Ray Toro's Les Paul through Marshall-style amps, with moderate gain for punch and clarity, balanced EQ for presence in the mix, and minimal reverb to keep the sound tight and direct as heard in mid-2000s alt-rock production.