Riff Tone

Heavy Is the Crown

LINKIN PARK

Guitarmetal2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarUnknown 6-string electric guitar (likely PRS or ESP, model not confirmed for this song/section)

AmpUnknown mid-gain amp (likely Marshall Plexi, Hiwatt, or Vox AC30, as referenced for Dirty Boy Ball Buster pedal use, but not confirmed for this specific recording)

PickupsLikely humbuckers (exact model unknown, but Linkin Park typically use high-output humbuckers for riff sections)

Amp Settings

gain8

bass6

mid6

treble7

reverb1.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

boostDirty Boy Dirty Boy Ball Buster

Notes

Studio recording, 2024. Gear confirmed for album era but not tied to this specific song/section. Dirty Boy Ball Buster boost/distortion pedal confirmed as core to riff tone. No direct evidence of exact guitar or amp model for this riff.

Tone Character(10)

thick and saturatedtight and percussiveaggressive attackmodern nu-metal cruncharticulate note separationfocused low endcrisp high enddynamic responsecontrolled feedbackpunchy and heavy

Difficulty

The riff requires tight palm muting, rhythmic accuracy, and dynamic control typical of modern nu-metal, but does not involve advanced lead techniques or complex chord voicings.

Sources

“The most musical, unique and dynamic distortion effects I’ve ever used”: Linkin Park reveal the secret weapon behind their From Zero guitar tone – and it was designed by former Poison guitarist Blues Saraceno’s dad | MusicRadar Linkin Park – Heavy Is the Crown - Gear & Equipment Used on the Single | Equipboard Linkin Park – From Zero - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard

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