Guitar tone · metal
Testament guitar tone: gear & amp settings
The gear and amp settings behind 9 Testament songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or custom shop, as used by Alex Skolnick in the late 1980s) into Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, late 1980s).
Guitars Testament used
- Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or custom shop, as used by Alex Skolnick in the late 1980s)1 song
- Gibson Les Paul Custom (Eric Peterson's black Les Paul, EMG 81/85 pickups)1 song
- Ibanez 540P (Alex Skolnick's main guitar in 1987 studio recording)1 song
- ESP M-I Custom (early version, pre-signature, as used by Alex Skolnick on 'The Legacy' album)1 song
- ESP M-II Custom (Alex Skolnick signature, 1987-88 era)1 song
- Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or custom shop, 1980s, used by Alex Skolnick in studio)1 song
- Gibson Les Paul Custom (black, Eric Peterson's main guitar for this era)1 song
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (Alex Skolnick, Eric Peterson also used ESPs but Les Paul confirmed for this song/era)1 song
Amps Testament used
- Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, late 1980s)1 song
- Marshall JCM800 22031 song
- Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1987)1 song
- Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 or 2204, as used on 'The Legacy' studio recording, boosted with Tube Screamer)1 song
- Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 25-watt speakers1 song
- Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1988)1 song
- Peavey 5150 (original block letter, studio recording amp for 'The Gathering' era, used on 'Down for Life')1 song
- Marshall JCM800 (modded, boosted with Tube Screamer/OD808; Budda Preceptor not used until much later)1 song
9 Testament tones
| Song | Gain |
|---|---|
| Down for Life · riff | 8 |
| Alone in the Dark · riff | 7.5 |
| Electric Crown · riff | 7.5 |
| For the Love of Pain · riff | 8 |
| Over the Wall · solo | 8 |
| Powerslave · riff | 7.5 |
| Practice What You Preach · riff | 7 |
| The Ballad · riff | 7.5 |
| The Legacy · solo | 7.5 |
Get Testament's tone on your gear
Pick any Testament song and ToneAdapt adapts the original rig to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.
Frequently asked questions
What amp did Testament use?
Across 9 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Marshall JCM800 2203 head with 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, late 1980s) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 (1 song), Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1987) (1 song), Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 or 2204, as used on 'The Legacy' studio recording, boosted with Tube Screamer) (1 song).
What guitar did Testament use?
Most often: Jackson Soloist (likely SL1 or custom shop, as used by Alex Skolnick in the late 1980s) (1 song), Gibson Les Paul Custom (Eric Peterson's black Les Paul, EMG 81/85 pickups) (1 song), Ibanez 540P (Alex Skolnick's main guitar in 1987 studio recording) (1 song), ESP M-I Custom (early version, pre-signature, as used by Alex Skolnick on 'The Legacy' album) (1 song).
How do I get Testament's tone on my amp?
Open any Testament song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.