Riff Tone
Forever Down
Black Label Society
Guitarmetal2000s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (Zakk Wylde signature, Bullseye finish)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head
PickupsEMG 81 (bridge), EMG 85 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain8.5
bass6
mid5
treble7
reverb0
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
overdriveBoss Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
noise_gateMXR MXR Smart Gate
Notes
Studio recording, 2005. Gear confirmed for this era and album. Zakk Wylde is known for using his signature Les Paul with EMG pickups and Marshall JCM800 for Black Label Society riff tones. No direct source confirms alternate gear for this track. No evidence of live-specific gear for the studio version.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiveaggressive palm mutingsaturated high-gainchunky low endarticulate pick attackcompressed and focusedmodern metal clarityrazor-sharp attackscooped but present midsactive pickup punch
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting and fast alternate picking, demanding good synchronization and noise control due to the high-gain setup.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarmetal2000s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (Zakk Wylde signature, Bullseye finish)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head
PickupsEMG 81 (bridge), EMG 85 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain8.5
bass6
mid5
treble7
reverb0
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
overdriveBoss Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
noise_gateMXR MXR Smart Gate
Notes
Studio recording, 2005. Gear confirmed for this era and album. Zakk Wylde is known for using his signature Les Paul with EMG pickups and Marshall JCM800 for Black Label Society riff tones. No direct source confirms alternate gear for this track. No evidence of live-specific gear for the studio version.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiveaggressive palm mutingsaturated high-gainchunky low endarticulate pick attackcompressed and focusedmodern metal clarityrazor-sharp attackscooped but present midsactive pickup punch
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting and fast alternate picking, demanding good synchronization and noise control due to the high-gain setup.
More Black Label Society tones
- Stillborn (feat. Ozzy Osbourne) · riff
- Suicide Messiah · riff
- The Gallows · riff
- Blackened Waters · solo
- Funeral Bell · riff
- Graveyard Disciples · riff
- Set You Free · solo
- Suicide Messiah · solo
- A Love Unreal · riff
- A Love Unreal · solo