Riff Tone

Nothing Feels Right (feat. Zakk Wylde)

Ozzy Osbourne

Guitarmetal2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1981, Zakk Wylde signature or similar, with EMG pickups)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 100-watt head (likely late-'80s or reissue, with 6550 tubes) into Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabinet

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

Amp Settings

gain8

bass6.5

mid5

treble7.5

reverb1.5

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveBoss Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

Notes

Studio recording for Ozzy Osbourne's 'Nothing Feels Right' (2022, Patient Number 9 album). Zakk Wylde is known for using his Les Paul Custom with EMG pickups and Marshall JCM800s for Ozzy's heavy riff sections. No direct studio documentation for this song, but all available evidence and audio point to this classic setup. Chorus pedal is used as a splitter for stereo amps, not for modulation. No wah or Rotovibe in riff section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiveaggressive bridge pickup attackhigh-gain saturationclear note definitionmodern metal crunchpunchy low endarticulate under heavy gainslight stereo spreadminimal ambiencefocused midrange

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, controlled palm muting and precise alternate picking to maintain clarity under high-gain saturation, with syncopated rhythms adding to the technical challenge.

Sources

Zakk Wylde's guitar tone on Ozzy Osbourne's No More Tears: how he got his sound | Guitar World Check out Ozzy Osbourne’s new single featuring Zakk Wylde’s blazing solo, Nothing Feels Right | MusicRadar

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