Riff Tone
Holy Wars
Megadeth
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarJackson KV Pro Dave Mustaine Signature (likely with Bill Lawrence L-500XL bridge pickup)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head into DeCuir 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers
PickupsBill Lawrence L-500XL (bridge humbucker), Seymour Duncan SH-2N Jazz (neck humbucker, but not used for riff)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass5
mid5.5
treble7
reverb0
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1989-1990. Gear confirmed for Rust In Peace era and visible in period photos and interviews. No evidence of pedals or effects used for rhythm/riff section; signal is guitar straight into amp. Pickup and amp models confirmed by Equipboard and period interviews.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiverazor-sharp articulationaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationscooped but present midsfocused low endcrisp pick attackdry, immediate responseminimal ambiencefast, staccato riffing
Difficulty
The riff requires high-speed alternate picking, tight palm muting, and precise rhythm, making it challenging even for advanced players.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarJackson KV Pro Dave Mustaine Signature (likely with Bill Lawrence L-500XL bridge pickup)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head into DeCuir 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers
PickupsBill Lawrence L-500XL (bridge humbucker), Seymour Duncan SH-2N Jazz (neck humbucker, but not used for riff)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass5
mid5.5
treble7
reverb0
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1989-1990. Gear confirmed for Rust In Peace era and visible in period photos and interviews. No evidence of pedals or effects used for rhythm/riff section; signal is guitar straight into amp. Pickup and amp models confirmed by Equipboard and period interviews.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiverazor-sharp articulationaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationscooped but present midsfocused low endcrisp pick attackdry, immediate responseminimal ambiencefast, staccato riffing
Difficulty
The riff requires high-speed alternate picking, tight palm muting, and precise rhythm, making it challenging even for advanced players.
Holy Wars settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
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