Solo Tone
Painkiller
Judas Priest
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarHamer Custom GT (Glenn Tipton's signature, 24-fret, Kahler tremolo, EMG pickups)
AmpMarshall JCM 800 2203 (modded, used in studio for Painkiller solo)
PickupsEMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass4.5
mid4
treble9
reverb0
presence7
Effects & Signal Chain
delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 1990. Glenn Tipton played the Painkiller solo. The Hamer Custom GT with EMG 81 active bridge pickup was used, into a modded Marshall JCM 800 2203 head. No evidence of live gear or other guitars/amps being used for the solo. No explicit pedalboard evidence for the studio session.
Tone Character(10)
razor-sharp lead tonescreaming harmonicstight, percussive attacksinging sustaincutting upper midsaggressive pick attackfluid legato runsintense high-gain saturationarticulate note separationmetallic edge
Difficulty
The Painkiller solo is considered expert-level due to its blistering tempo, advanced picking techniques, and demanding phrasing, requiring both technical mastery and stamina.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarHamer Custom GT (Glenn Tipton's signature, 24-fret, Kahler tremolo, EMG pickups)
AmpMarshall JCM 800 2203 (modded, used in studio for Painkiller solo)
PickupsEMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass4.5
mid4
treble9
reverb0
presence7
Effects & Signal Chain
delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 1990. Glenn Tipton played the Painkiller solo. The Hamer Custom GT with EMG 81 active bridge pickup was used, into a modded Marshall JCM 800 2203 head. No evidence of live gear or other guitars/amps being used for the solo. No explicit pedalboard evidence for the studio session.
Tone Character(10)
razor-sharp lead tonescreaming harmonicstight, percussive attacksinging sustaincutting upper midsaggressive pick attackfluid legato runsintense high-gain saturationarticulate note separationmetallic edge
Difficulty
The Painkiller solo is considered expert-level due to its blistering tempo, advanced picking techniques, and demanding phrasing, requiring both technical mastery and stamina.
Painkiller settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
More Judas Priest tones
- Breaking the Law · riff
- Painkiller · riff
- Electric Eye · riff
- You've Got Another Thing Comin' · riff
- Evil Never Dies · riff
- Before the Dawn · solo
- Beyond the Realms of Death · riff
- Beyond the Realms of Death · solo
- Bloodstone · riff
- Breaking the Law · solo