Guitar tone · metal
Heathen guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 8 Heathen songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or similar, 1991 era, as used by Lee Altus and Doug Piercy) into Marshall JCM800 2203 (most likely, as per genre/era/scene and visible in period photos/interviews for Heathen's 'Victims of Deception').
Guitars Heathen used
- Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or similar, 1991 era, as used by Lee Altus and Doug Piercy)1 song
- Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or custom shop, as used by Lee Altus and Kragen Lum in this era)1 song
- ESP M-II (likely 1980s/early 1990s model, as used by Lee Altus in Heathen studio recordings)1 song
- ESP LTD (exact model unspecified, likely H or M series as used by Lee Altus on this album)1 song
- Unknown (likely Jackson or ESP superstrat, as used by Heathen in 2010s)1 song
- Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or SL2, typical for Heathen live in the 2010s)1 song
Amps Heathen used
- Marshall JCM800 2203 (most likely, as per genre/era/scene and visible in period photos/interviews for Heathen's 'Victims of Deception')1 song
- Peavey 5150/6505 (most likely, as used by Heathen for 'The Evolution of Chaos' and live in this era)1 song
- Peavey 5150 (original block letter, as used by Lee Altus and Kragen Lum for rhythm tracks in 2000s/2010s Heathen recordings)1 song
- Peavey Triple XXX 120W or Engl Savage 120 (both cited as used on Empire of the Blind; exact track amp not specified)1 song
- Unknown (likely Peavey 5150/6505 or Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, as typical for modern thrash metal and Heathen's era)1 song
- Peavey 5150 (live standard for Heathen in the 2010s)1 song
8 Heathen tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| Empire of the Blind · riff | 8.5 |
| Dying Season (Remastered 2020) · riff | 8 |
| The Blight · riff | 7.5 |
| Never A God · riff | 8 |
| Control by Chaos (Remastered 2020) · riff | 8 |
| Fear of the Unknown · riff | 7.5 |
| Goblin's Blade (Live) · riff | 7.5 |
| Hypnotized · riff | 7.5 |
Heathen songs on popular amps
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.
Get Heathen's tone on your gear
Pick any Heathen song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did Heathen use?
Across 8 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203 (most likely, as per genre/era/scene and visible in period photos/interviews for Heathen's 'Victims of Deception') (1 song), Peavey 5150/6505 (most likely, as used by Heathen for 'The Evolution of Chaos' and live in this era) (1 song), Peavey 5150 (original block letter, as used by Lee Altus and Kragen Lum for rhythm tracks in 2000s/2010s Heathen recordings) (1 song), Peavey Triple XXX 120W or Engl Savage 120 (both cited as used on Empire of the Blind; exact track amp not specified) (1 song).
What guitar did Heathen use?
Most often: Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or similar, 1991 era, as used by Lee Altus and Doug Piercy) (1 song), Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or custom shop, as used by Lee Altus and Kragen Lum in this era) (1 song), ESP M-II (likely 1980s/early 1990s model, as used by Lee Altus in Heathen studio recordings) (1 song), ESP LTD (exact model unspecified, likely H or M series as used by Lee Altus on this album) (1 song).
How do I get Heathen's tone on my amp?
Open any Heathen song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.