Riff Tone

In This River

Black Label Society

Guitarmetal2000s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (Zakk Wylde signature, Bullseye finish)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203ZW head with Marshall 1960A/B ZW cabs

PickupsEMG 81 (bridge), EMG 85 (neck) active humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass6

mid6

treble7

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveMXR Dunlop MXR ZW44 Wylde Overdrive

chorusMXR Dunlop MXR ZW38 Black Label Chorus

Notes

Studio recording, 2004-2005 (album 'Mafia'). Zakk Wylde's rig for heavy/riff sections is well-documented as Les Paul Custom with EMG active pickups into his signature Marshall JCM800 head and matching cabs. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. Effects are primarily pedal-based; amp is run loud and clean with pedals for gain and modulation.

Tone Character(10)

tight and saturatedaggressive palm-muted chugsthick, compressed midrangearticulate pick attackchunky, percussive low endmodern metal clarityactive pickup punchcontrolled feedbackslightly scooped but present midssinging sustain on power chords

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, controlled palm muting and precise picking to maintain clarity with high-gain settings, as well as dynamic control to avoid muddiness. While not extremely fast or technical, the tone and articulation demand intermediate skill.