Riff Tone

Hungry Ghost

Daron Malakian And Scars On Broadway

Guitarmetal2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarIbanez Iceman (custom, likely with Seymour Duncan pickups)

AmpFriedman BE-100 Deluxe

PickupsSeymour Duncan humbuckers (exact model not confirmed, but typical for Daron's Iceman in this era)

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass6.5

mid4

treble6.5

reverb1.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

noise_gateMXR MXR Smart Gate Pro

Notes

Studio recording, 2018 (album release year). Daron used the Friedman BE-100 Deluxe for high-gain tones in Scars on Broadway era. No evidence of pedal-based distortion; all gain from amp. No evidence of additional layering or alternate guitars for the riff section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivescooped midsaggressive palm mutingchunky, saturated rhythmsharp, cutting high endfocused low endarticulate note separationmodern metal clarityminimal ambienceno audible modulation

Difficulty

The riff requires precise, tight palm muting and aggressive picking, but does not involve advanced techniques or high speed, making it intermediate in difficulty.

Sources

System of a Down's Daron Malakian Rig Rundown - Premier Guitar System of a Down's Daron Malakian's Guitar Rig Gear and Equipment What makes Daron Malakian's guitar riffs sound the way they do?

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