Riff Tone

Killing in the Name (Live at 2000 Democratic National Convention)

Rage Against the Machin

Guitarrock2000s

Original Gear

GuitarFender American Telecaster (stock, black finish, maple neck, 6-saddle bridge)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2205 50-watt head into Peavey 4x12 cabinet (live setup, 2000 DNC performance)

PickupsFender single-coil (stock Telecaster pickups, likely ceramic for this era)

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass5.5

mid7

treble6.5

reverb0

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Live performance at the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Tom Morello is known for using his black American Telecaster with stock pickups and a Marshall JCM800 2205 head into a Peavey 4x12 cabinet for Rage Against the Machine live shows in this era. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this song's riff section in this performance.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiveaggressive attackfocused midrange punchcrisp, biting top enddry and immediatehigh-gain saturationarticulate single-note claritydynamic response to pickingno ambient effectsin-your-face presence

Difficulty

The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires tight palm muting, aggressive picking, and precise timing to capture the song's signature groove and heaviness.

Sources

killing in the name of tone : r/GuitarAmps The 12 days of riffmas: learn Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name Of | MusicRadar Weekend riff: Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name | MusicRadar

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