GuitarDistortedRiff
Welcome to the Black Parade Guitar Tone Settings
My Chemical Romance · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom (Ray Toro, primary for riff section)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock late-70s Les Paul Custom pickups)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2210 head (studio and live, riff section)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2006. Ray Toro used his black 1978 Les Paul Custom for the main riff sections of 'Welcome to the Black Parade.' The amp was a Marshall JCM800 2210, which is confirmed as his main studio and live amp for this era and song. Frank Iero played rhythm parts, but the main riff tone is Ray's Les Paul into the Marshall. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section beyond possible light amp reverb. Settings are averaged from user forum posts and typical JCM800 usage for this genre/era.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain8
Reverb1.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- mid-heavy and saturated
- tight palm-muted chugs
- crunchy overdrive
- rich, saturated tone
- aggressive, riff-driven energy
- thick and powerful
- articulate attack
- slightly compressed
- cutting upper mids
- controlled feedback