Riff Tone

Among the Living

Anthrax

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

GuitarJackson Randy Rhoads (custom, white, early 80s, Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head

PickupsSeymour Duncan JB (bridge humbucker)

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass5.5

mid4

treble7

reverb0

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

boostTC Electronic TC Electronic Booster + Line Driver & Distortion

Notes

Studio recording, 1986-1987. Scott Ian used his original Jackson Randy Rhoads with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge for the main riff/rhythm tracks on 'Among the Living.' The amp was a Marshall JCM800 2203, boosted with a TC Electronic Booster + Line Driver & Distortion pedal. No time-based or modulation effects were used on the riff section; the tone is pure amp distortion with a boost. No effects loop. Settings are estimated based on era, genre, and typical usage for this rig.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiveaggressive palm mutingscooped midshigh-gain saturationchunky rhythmrazor-sharp articulationminimal ambiencefast attackclassic thrash metal crunchfocused low end

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, relentless downpicking and tight palm muting at high speed, demanding both stamina and precision typical of advanced thrash rhythm playing.

Sources

Anthrax's Scott Ian on his thrashtastic history with Jackson guitars, shredding with his son and how an unlikely fretboard shaped the sound of Bring the Noise | Guitar World Scott Ian's Effects Pedals | Equipboard Scott Ian's Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Amps | Equipboard

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