Riff Tone
Black Magic
Slayer
Guitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
GuitarESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (early prototype or custom, likely with Kahler tremolo, as used on Show No Mercy sessions)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
PickupsEMG 81 (bridge humbucker, active)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass4.5
mid4.5
treble6.5
reverb0
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1983, Show No Mercy album. Gear confirmed for album era and riff section by Guitar World and Premier Guitar. No evidence of pedals or effects used for rhythm/riff section; distortion from amp. Pickup: bridge. No effects loop or additional pedals confirmed for this section.
Tone Character(10)
tight, powerful punchchunky and focusedaggressive palm mutingmid-forward attackslightly rolled-off trebleraw and directhigh-gain saturationpercussive pick attackno ambience or reverbbridge pickup bite
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and palm muting at high speed, with tight rhythm and aggressive attack typical of early thrash metal.
Sources
Slayer’s reputation as thrash’s fiercest band rested upon the guitar partnership of Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King – and their harmonically evil style will make your rhythm riffing that bit more diabolical | Guitar WorldJeff Hanneman is a metal god whose evil phrasing and brutal downpicking gave thrash kings Slayer an unholy dimension | Guitar WorldSlayer – Show No Mercy - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
GuitarESP Jeff Hanneman Signature (early prototype or custom, likely with Kahler tremolo, as used on Show No Mercy sessions)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
PickupsEMG 81 (bridge humbucker, active)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass4.5
mid4.5
treble6.5
reverb0
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Sources
Slayer’s reputation as thrash’s fiercest band rested upon the guitar partnership of Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King – and their harmonically evil style will make your rhythm riffing that bit more diabolical | Guitar WorldJeff Hanneman is a metal god whose evil phrasing and brutal downpicking gave thrash kings Slayer an unholy dimension | Guitar WorldSlayer – Show No Mercy - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard
Notes
Studio recording, 1983, Show No Mercy album. Gear confirmed for album era and riff section by Guitar World and Premier Guitar. No evidence of pedals or effects used for rhythm/riff section; distortion from amp. Pickup: bridge. No effects loop or additional pedals confirmed for this section.
Tone Character(10)
tight, powerful punchchunky and focusedaggressive palm mutingmid-forward attackslightly rolled-off trebleraw and directhigh-gain saturationpercussive pick attackno ambience or reverbbridge pickup bite
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and palm muting at high speed, with tight rhythm and aggressive attack typical of early thrash metal.
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