Riff Tone

Scar Spangled Banner

Exodus

Guitarmetal2000s

Original Gear

GuitarESP Eclipse (Gary Holt Signature or similar, EMG 81 bridge pickup, likely tuned to D standard)

AmpENGL Savage 120 (studio recording amp for 'Tempo of the Damned' era, 2004)

PickupsEMG 81 (active humbucker, bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass4.5

mid5.5

treble7.5

reverb0

presence7

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveIbanez Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (or Maxon OD808, era-typical boost)

noise_gateUnknown Noise Gate (model unknown, likely Boss NS-2 or ISP Decimator)

Notes

Studio recording, 2004. Gary Holt used ENGL Savage 120 for 'Tempo of the Damned' (album featuring 'Scar Spangled Banner'). Guitar is ESP Eclipse with EMG 81 bridge pickup. No evidence of live/tour gear or alternate guitars/amps for this song's riff section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivemid-forward articulationaggressive palm mutingsharp, spiky high endcompressed and saturatedminimal low end (not boomy)high clarity under gainfast attackarticulate note separationno ambient reverb

Difficulty

The riff requires expert-level speed, stamina, and palm muting accuracy typical of Bay Area thrash. Maintaining clarity and tightness at high tempos with aggressive picking and muting is technically demanding.