Riff Tone
Heir Apparent
Opeth
Guitarmetal2000s
Original Gear
GuitarPRS Custom 24 (likely 2008 model, as used by Fredrik Åkesson and Mikael Åkerfeldt on 'Watershed')
AmpMesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier + Marshall JVM410H (dual amp setup, quad-tracked, as per era and forum consensus for 'Watershed')
PickupsPRS HFS Treble (bridge) and Vintage Bass (neck) humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain8
bass5.5
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 2008. Rhythm guitars quad-tracked: one pair Mesa Dual Rectifier through Mesa MF400 cab, one pair Marshall JVM410H through Mesa cab. Standard tuning. No evidence of pedals for rhythm/riff section; distortion from amp gain. No time-based or modulation effects audible in riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiveaggressive palm mutingsaturated high-gainfocused midrange puncharticulate attackmodern metal claritydry, no ambiencequad-tracked for thicknessno modulation or time-based effectsstandard tuning heaviness
Difficulty
The riff section requires advanced rhythm technique, fast alternate picking, and precise muting to achieve the tight, percussive sound characteristic of Opeth's modern metal style.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarmetal2000s
Original Gear
GuitarPRS Custom 24 (likely 2008 model, as used by Fredrik Åkesson and Mikael Åkerfeldt on 'Watershed')
AmpMesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier + Marshall JVM410H (dual amp setup, quad-tracked, as per era and forum consensus for 'Watershed')
PickupsPRS HFS Treble (bridge) and Vintage Bass (neck) humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain8
bass5.5
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 2008. Rhythm guitars quad-tracked: one pair Mesa Dual Rectifier through Mesa MF400 cab, one pair Marshall JVM410H through Mesa cab. Standard tuning. No evidence of pedals for rhythm/riff section; distortion from amp gain. No time-based or modulation effects audible in riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiveaggressive palm mutingsaturated high-gainfocused midrange puncharticulate attackmodern metal claritydry, no ambiencequad-tracked for thicknessno modulation or time-based effectsstandard tuning heaviness
Difficulty
The riff section requires advanced rhythm technique, fast alternate picking, and precise muting to achieve the tight, percussive sound characteristic of Opeth's modern metal style.
More Opeth tones
- Burden · solo
- Deliverance · riff
- Ending Credits · riff
- Blackwater Park · riff
- A Fair Judgement · solo
- Burden · riff
- Ending Credits · riff
- Windowpane · solo
- A Story Never Told · solo
- Black Rose Immortal (2023 Abbey Road Remaster) · riff