Riff Tone
Know Your Enemy (Live In Mexico City, MX, 10/28/99)
Rage Against the Machine
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarCustom 'Arm The Homeless' (Tom Morello's main guitar, live 1999)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2205 head into Peavey 4x12 cabinet
PickupsEMG H (neck) and EMG H (bridge), active humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
mid6.5
treble7
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
modulationDigitech Digitech Whammy (WH-1)
Notes
Live performance, Mexico City, 10/28/99. Guitar is Morello's iconic 'Arm The Homeless' with EMG H pickups. Amp is his standard Marshall JCM800 2205, no amp effects loop. Settings estimated based on era, genre, and typical Morello rig. Pickup selector manipulation is a key part of the riff effect.
Tone Character(10)
percussive and stutteredaggressive and bitingtight and focuseddry and direct (minimal ambience)high output and cleardynamic and responsivemid-heavy and cuttingarticulate riff definitioncompressed punchdistinctive whammy harmonies
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced coordination between the picking hand, rapid toggle switching, and foot control of the Whammy pedal, all while maintaining tight, aggressive rhythm and clarity at stage volume.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarCustom 'Arm The Homeless' (Tom Morello's main guitar, live 1999)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2205 head into Peavey 4x12 cabinet
PickupsEMG H (neck) and EMG H (bridge), active humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
mid6.5
treble7
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
modulationDigitech Digitech Whammy (WH-1)
Notes
Live performance, Mexico City, 10/28/99. Guitar is Morello's iconic 'Arm The Homeless' with EMG H pickups. Amp is his standard Marshall JCM800 2205, no amp effects loop. Settings estimated based on era, genre, and typical Morello rig. Pickup selector manipulation is a key part of the riff effect.
Tone Character(10)
percussive and stutteredaggressive and bitingtight and focuseddry and direct (minimal ambience)high output and cleardynamic and responsivemid-heavy and cuttingarticulate riff definitioncompressed punchdistinctive whammy harmonies
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced coordination between the picking hand, rapid toggle switching, and foot control of the Whammy pedal, all while maintaining tight, aggressive rhythm and clarity at stage volume.
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