Riff Tone

Helena (2025 Mix)

My Chemical Romance

Guitarpunk2000s

Original Gear

GuitarEpiphone Les Paul Custom (Frank Iero, studio recording)

AmpMarshall JCM2000 DSL100

PickupsEpiphone Alnico Classic humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass6

mid6.5

treble7

reverb2

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveBowman Audio Endeavors Bowman Audio Endeavors Overdrive

overdriveAnalog Man Analog Man Prince of Tone

distortionJHS JHS Hard Drive

eqMesa/Boogie Mesa/Boogie Five-Band Graphic EQ

flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger

Notes

Studio recording, 2004 (Three Cheers era), referenced for 2025 Mix. Gear confirmed for original studio recording; no evidence of significant gear change for 2025 Mix. Focus is on Frank Iero's rhythm/riff tone, not Ray Toro's lead/solo. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for this mix.

Tone Character(10)

tight, saturated rhythm crunchaggressive palm-muted power chordsarticulate attack with fast decaymid-forward punk/emo voicingslight top-end bitecompressed, focused low endpercussive chugwall-of-sound layeringminimal ambient spaceflanger swirl in chorus/verse link

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate-level palm muting, fast chord changes, and precise rhythm to maintain the song's aggressive, tight feel, but does not involve advanced lead techniques.

Sources

Frank Iero's Effects Pedals | Equipboard My Chemical Romance – Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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