Guitar tone · metal, Thrash metal

Slayer guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 19 Slayer songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: B.C. Rich Bich into Marshall JCM800 2203.

Guitars Slayer used

B.C. Rich Bich2 songs
ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (early prototype or custom, likely with Kahler tremolo, as used on Show No Mercy sessions)1 song
BC Rich Warlock (Kerry King signature, EMG 81 bridge pickup, likely used on South of Heaven album)1 song
B.C. Rich Kerry King Signature V Generation 21 song
B.C. Rich Wave bass (early era, ’80s)1 song
BC Rich Warlock (Kerry King signature, likely used for recording)1 song
ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (early prototype or custom, likely with Kahler tremolo)1 song
Jackson Soloist Custom (Jeff Hanneman's main studio guitar, 1986)1 song

Amps Slayer used

Marshall JCM800 22035 songs
Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet2 songs
Marshall JCM800 2203 head2 songs
Marshall JCM800 2203 (Kerry King's original 'The Beast', used in studio for South of Heaven era)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 (Kerry King signature modded version likely used in studio)1 song
Ampeg SVT head with 8×10 cabinet1 song
Marshall JCM 800 (studio recording, 2015 era)1 song
Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 1960 4x12 cabinet1 song

27 Slayer tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Raining Blood · riff	Riff · distorted	B.C. Rich Bich (circa 1986, as seen in live footage and consistent with studio era)	Marshall JCM800 2203	8.5
Dead Skin Mask · riff	Riff · distorted	B.C. Rich Kerry King Signature V Generation 2	Marshall JCM800 2203 (Kerry King signature modded version likely used in studio)	8.5
Seasons In the Abyss · riff	Riff · distorted	Jackson Soloist (custom, Jeff Hanneman signature prototype, Kahler tremolo, EMG 81/85 pickups)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head	7.5
Angel Of Death · riff	Riff · distorted	B.C. Rich Bich (circa 1986, black, as seen in live footage from the era)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	8.5
South of Heaven (Early Version / Jeff Hanneman's Home Recording) · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (early prototype or custom, likely with Kahler tremolo)	Marshall JCM800 2203	7.5
Mandatory Suicide · riff	Riff · distorted	BC Rich Warlock (late 1980s, likely USA model, stock Kahler tremolo)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, late 1980s, through Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers)	8.5
Postmortem · riff	Riff · distorted	Jackson Soloist (Jeff Hanneman's main guitar for Reign in Blood era)	Peavey Decade	9
Raining Blood · solo	Solo · distorted	B.C. Rich NJ Series (likely Warlock or Bich, c.1986)	Marshall JCM800 2203	8.5
South of Heaven · riff	Riff · distorted	B.C. Rich Kerry King V (2nd generation, EMG KFK set)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (Kerry King signature head, likely stock JCM800 for 1988 studio recording)	8
The Antichrist · riff	Riff · distorted	BC Rich Bich (early 1980s, likely stock pickups)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (likely Celestion G12-65 speakers)	8.5
Angel Of Death · solo	Solo · distorted	Jackson Soloist Custom (Jeff Hanneman's main studio guitar, 1986)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 1960 4x12 cabinet	8.5
Behind the Crooked Cross · riff	Riff · distorted	BC Rich Warlock (Kerry King signature, EMG 81 bridge pickup, likely used on South of Heaven album)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (Kerry King's original 'The Beast', used in studio for South of Heaven era)	8.5
Black Magic · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (early prototype or custom, likely with Kahler tremolo, as used on Show No Mercy sessions)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet	7.5
Black Magic · distorted	Distorted · distorted	B.C. Rich Wave bass (early era, ’80s)	Ampeg SVT head with 8×10 cabinet	8
Black Magic · clean	Clean · clean	ESP Tom Araya signature bass (alder body, ebony fretboard, EMG 35‑DC pickups)	Ampeg SVT head into 8×10 cabinet (recording era Reign in Blood) and Marshall VBA400 heads into Marshall 8×10 cabs (live/tour rig)	0
Crionics · riff	Riff · distorted	1983 Yamaha SG3000	Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely 'the Beast' head, as used by Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman on early Slayer albums)	8
Delusions of Saviour · riff	Riff · distorted	BC Rich Warlock (Kerry King signature, likely used for recording)	Marshall JCM 800 (studio recording, 2015 era)	8.5
Die By the Sword · riff	Riff · distorted	B.C. Rich Bich	Marshall JCM800 head with Marshall 1960 4×12 cabinets	8
Evil Has No Boundaries · riff	Riff · distorted	B.C. Rich Bich	Marshall JCM800 2203	8
Love to Hate · riff	Riff · distorted	BC Rich Bich (early 1980s, likely stock pickups for Show No Mercy era)	Marshall JCM800 2203 head	8.5
Raining Blood · distorted	Distorted · distorted	B.C. Rich Wave (1980s, P-style pickups)	Ampeg SVT head with Ampeg 8x10 cabinet	7
Raining Blood · riff	Riff · clean	B.C. Rich Bich (circa 1986, Jeff Hanneman)	Marshall JCM800 2203	0
Seasons In the Abyss · distorted	Distorted · distorted	ESP Tom Araya Signature (PJ configuration, active EMG pickups)	Ampeg SVT (likely SVT-II or SVT-CL, era-appropriate, studio use)	7
Seasons In the Abyss · solo	Solo · distorted	Jackson Soloist (custom, Jeff Hanneman, with EMG 81/85 pickups and Kahler tremolo)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (likely modded, used in studio for Seasons In the Abyss era)	8
Show No Mercy · riff	Riff · distorted	B.C. Rich Bich (Jeff Hanneman) or B.C. Rich Warlock (Kerry King)	Marshall JCM800 head with Marshall 1960 4x12 cabinet	8
Skeletons of Society · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (custom shop, alder body, maple neck, rosewood board)	Marshall JCM800 2203 100-watt head	9
World Painted Blood · riff	Riff · distorted	ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (EMG-81/85 pickups, EMG-SPC, Kahler tremolo)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (two heads, into Marshall MF400B and Orange cabs)	8.5

Slayer songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Slayer use?

Across 19 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203 (5 songs), Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (2 songs), Marshall JCM800 2203 head (2 songs), Marshall JCM800 2203 (Kerry King's original 'The Beast', used in studio for South of Heaven era) (1 song).

What guitar did Slayer use?

Most often: B.C. Rich Bich (2 songs), ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (early prototype or custom, likely with Kahler tremolo, as used on Show No Mercy sessions) (1 song), BC Rich Warlock (Kerry King signature, EMG 81 bridge pickup, likely used on South of Heaven album) (1 song), B.C. Rich Kerry King Signature V Generation 2 (1 song).

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

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