Guitar tone · metal, rock

Helmet guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 6 Helmet songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: ESP Horizon Custom into Marshall JCM800 2204S.

Guitars Helmet used

ESP Horizon Custom1 song
ESP M-II (early 90s, likely custom or standard, as used by Page Hamilton in studio)1 song
ESP Horizon Custom (early 1990s, likely with Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker)1 song
G&L SB-1 (likely, possibly SB-2 or SC-1; G&L used by Henry Bogdan in this era, but exact model for studio not 100% confirmed)1 song
ESP Horizon Custom (magenta, single bridge humbucker, no neck pickup or tone knob)1 song
ESP Horizon Custom (early 1990s, magenta, single DiMarzio custom humbucker)1 song
ESP Horizon (likely custom, as per Page Hamilton's known studio use for this era)1 song

Amps Helmet used

Marshall JCM800 2204S1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1994)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, early 1990s)1 song
Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, most probable for Helmet's 1990s studio work; no evidence of other amp types for this song/album)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2204S head into Marshall 1960s greenback 4x12 cabinet1 song
Marshall JCM800 2204S head into 1960s Marshall 4x12 cab with Greenback speakers1 song
VHT (now Fryette) Pittbull Ultra-Lead1 song

7 Helmet tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Biscuits for Smut · clean	Clean · clean	G&L SB-1 (likely, possibly SB-2 or SC-1; G&L used by Henry Bogdan in this era, but exact model for studio not 100% confirmed)	Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, most probable for Helmet's 1990s studio work; no evidence of other amp types for this song/album)	0
In the Meantime · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Horizon Custom (magenta, single bridge humbucker, no neck pickup or tone knob)	Marshall JCM800 2204S head into Marshall 1960s greenback 4x12 cabinet	7.5
Milquetoast · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Horizon Custom	Marshall JCM800 2204S	8
See You Dead · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Horizon (likely custom, as per Page Hamilton's known studio use for this era)	VHT (now Fryette) Pittbull Ultra-Lead	8
Speechless · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP M-II (early 90s, likely custom or standard, as used by Page Hamilton in studio)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1994)	8
Unsung · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Horizon Custom (early 1990s, likely with Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, early 1990s)	7.5
Unsung · solo	Solo · distorted	ESP Horizon Custom (early 1990s, magenta, single DiMarzio custom humbucker)	Marshall JCM800 2204S head into 1960s Marshall 4x12 cab with Greenback speakers	7.5

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Helmet use?

Across 6 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2204S (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1994) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, early 1990s) (1 song), Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, most probable for Helmet's 1990s studio work; no evidence of other amp types for this song/album) (1 song).

What guitar did Helmet use?

Most often: ESP Horizon Custom (1 song), ESP M-II (early 90s, likely custom or standard, as used by Page Hamilton in studio) (1 song), ESP Horizon Custom (early 1990s, likely with Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker) (1 song), G&L SB-1 (likely, possibly SB-2 or SC-1; G&L used by Henry Bogdan in this era, but exact model for studio not 100% confirmed) (1 song).

How do I get Helmet's tone on my amp?

Open any Helmet song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.