HeadRush Prime settings
Holy Wars settings for HeadRush Prime
Megadeth · adapted 5 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Megadeth "Holy Wars" riff tone on a HeadRush Prime, use the 82 LEAD 800 100W amp model on the lead channel, then set Drive 7, Master 7, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 6. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
updated 2026-10-10
- Amp model
- 82 LEAD 800 100W
- Channel
- Lead
- Cab
- 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Amp block
- Drive
- 7
- Master
- 7
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
Effects chain
- 1noise gateDefault Gate
- 2overdriveGreen JRC OverdriveGain 5 · Tone 5 · Level 7
- 3distortionBlackOp DistortionGain 8 · Tone 6 · Level 7
Playing tips
- Focus on tight palm muting for a percussive attack.
- Use aggressive picking to achieve a crisp pick attack.
- Maintain a staccato feel in your riffing for clarity.
The original rig
What Megadeth used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your HeadRush Prime actually has.
- Guitar
- Jackson KV Pro Dave Mustaine Signature (likely with Bill Lawrence L-500XL bridge pickup)
- Amp
- Marshall JCM800 2203 head into DeCuir 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 5.5
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 0
Different guitar or pedals? Get Holy Wars adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Megadeth's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What amp model should I use on the HeadRush Prime for Holy Wars?
Use the 82 LEAD 800 100W (lead channel) with Drive 7, Master 7, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 6, followed by Default Gate, Green JRC Overdrive, BlackOp Distortion.
Which pickup should I use for Holy Wars?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 10 and volume at 10.
What gear did Megadeth use on Holy Wars?
Guitar: Jackson KV Pro Dave Mustaine Signature (likely with Bill Lawrence L-500XL bridge pickup). Amp: Marshall JCM800 2203 head into DeCuir 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers.
Will these settings work with my guitar?
Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Holy Wars on other amps
Popular songs on the HeadRush Prime
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Alive · Pearl Jam
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Smoke on the Water · Deep Purple
- What If · Creed
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Comfortably Numb · Pink Floyd
- Creep · Radiohead
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.