GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Trust Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Megadeth
Megadeth · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP Dave Mustaine Signature (likely custom shop, 1997, loaded with Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan JB (SH-4) bridge humbucker
Amp
Marshall 2203 JCM800 100W head (studio recording, 1997)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Trust' (1997, Cryptic Writings). Mustaine was known to use ESP signature Vs with Seymour Duncan JB pickups and Marshall JCM800 heads in the studio during this era. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. No evidence of rack preamps or modeling for the original studio recording.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass5.5
Gain7.5
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Noise Gate (model unknown) · noise_gate
ESP Dave Mustaine Signature V (Seymour Duncan JB bridge) → Noise Gate (if used) → Marshall JCM800 2203 head → Marshall 4x12 cab (minimal amp reverb)
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- articulate pick attack
- scooped but present mids
- crisp, defined highs
- controlled low end
- minimal ambience
- modern metal rhythm clarity
- focused, punchy attack
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for 'Trust' studio recording; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 use in 1990s Megadeth and genre conventions.
- No pedalboard photos or interviews confirm specific pedals for the riff section of 'Trust'; distortion is primarily amp-based.
- Equipboard and other sources confirm Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup and Marshall JCM800 as core studio rig for Mustaine in this era.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; only minimal reverb likely from amp or studio.
- No evidence of rack preamps or digital processors on the original studio recording for the riff section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Megadeth's 'Trust' (Cryptic Writings, 1997) features a tight, high-gain, scooped-mid rhythm tone typical of Dave Mustaine's late-90s sound, likely using a Marshall or modified amp with mids pulled back, tight bass, and bright treble/presence for clarity; the production is very dry with no audible reverb.