Riff Tone

Re-Education (Through Labor)

Rise Against

Guitarpunk2000s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 2000s model, as used by Tim McIlrath in studio/live for this era)

AmpMarshall JCM900 50W head (studio and live, as per Premier Guitar rig rundown)

PickupsHumbucker (likely Gibson 498T/490R or Burstbucker, stock Les Paul Standard pickups)

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass5.5

mid6

treble7

reverb0.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording for 'Appeal to Reason' (2008). Tim McIlrath used a Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Marshall JCM900 for the main distorted riff sections. No explicit mention of pedals used for distortion in the studio; live rig includes some modulation and delay pedals, but no evidence these were used on the original studio riff. Settings estimated based on typical JCM900 punk/hardcore usage and era. No evidence of effects loop or amp-based effects for the riff tone.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiveaggressive and articulatefocused midrange punchsaturated high-gain crunchminimal ambienceclear note separationslightly compressed attackmodern punk/hardcore edgefast, driving rhythmcontrolled, non-fuzzy distortion

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, consistent alternate picking and tight palm muting at a high tempo, but uses straightforward power chords and rhythm patterns typical of modern punk.

Sources

Rig Rundown: Rise Against [2021] - Premier Guitar Rise Against – Endgame - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard

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