Riff Tone

Sugar (Clean Version)

System Of A Down

Guitarmetal1990s

Original Gear

GuitarIbanez Iceman IC300

AmpMesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, 1997 era)

PickupsStock Ibanez humbuckers (likely Powersound or V7/V8, ceramic magnet, passive)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5.5

mid5

treble6.5

reverb1

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1997. Daron Malakian used an Ibanez Iceman IC300 with stock humbuckers for the debut album. The amp was a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, which was the core of his studio sound for 'Sugar'. No evidence of pedal use for the clean riff section; tone is amp-driven. Friedman BE-100s are used live in later years, but not on the original recording.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiveclear and articulatefast attackslightly scooped midsbright but not harshdirect and in-your-faceno audible breakupno modulation or time-based effectsdry, uncompressedfocused single-note clarity

Difficulty

The riff requires fast alternate picking and tight rhythmic accuracy, but does not involve advanced techniques or complex chord voicings, making it intermediate.

Sources

System of a Down's Daron Malakian Rig Rundown - Premier Guitar How to Sound Like System of a Down - Guitar Tone : r/systemofadown

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