Riff Tone

In Waves

Trivium

Guitarmetal2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarEpiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom (MKH Signature, likely 6-string, with Evertune bridge)

AmpPeavey 5150 (original block-letter), into Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cab with Celestion Vintage 30s

PickupsFishman Fluence Modern Humbucker

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass6

mid5

treble7

reverb0

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveMaxon Maxon OD808 Overdrive

Notes

Studio recording for 'In Waves' (2011). Guitar is Matt Heafy's signature Epiphone Les Paul Custom with Fishman Fluence Modern Humbuckers and Evertune bridge. Amp is a Peavey 5150 (original block-letter) into a Mesa/Boogie 4x12 with V30s. No time-based or modulation effects used on rhythm/riff section; signal path is guitar → Maxon OD808 (boost) → Peavey 5150 → Mesa cab. All delay, reverb, phaser, or wah was added post-recording, not in the guitar signal chain for the riff.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiverazor-sharp attackarticulate and clearsaturated high-gainaggressive palm mutingmassive quad-tracked soundminimalist, stripped-back groovehigh-output active pickup claritychunky low endfocused midrange

Difficulty

The riff section requires fast, precise alternate picking and aggressive palm muting, with tight timing and articulation. Quad-tracking in the studio adds to the challenge of matching tone and timing across takes.