Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40 settings
Holy Wars settings for Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40
Megadeth · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Megadeth "Holy Wars" riff tone on a Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40, select the Lead preset, then set Gain 7.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Boost 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a ESP LTD EC-1000 (EMG 81/60 configuration) · updated 2026-07-21
- Preset / mode
- Lead
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40 knobs
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Boost
- 0
Playing tips
- Focus on tight palm muting to achieve a percussive sound.
- Use aggressive picking for sharp articulation.
- Maintain a fast, staccato rhythm for the riff.
The original rig
What Megadeth used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40 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 preset should I use on the Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40 for Holy Wars?
Start from the Lead preset, then set Gain 7.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Boost 0.
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?
These settings were adapted for a ESP LTD EC-1000 (EMG 81/60 configuration). 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 Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Blurry · Puddle of Mudd
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Knockin' On Heaven's Door · Guns N' Roses
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Smoke On the Water · Deep Purple
- Kryptonite · 3 Doors Down
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
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.