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Riff Tone

Teardrinker

Mastodon

Guitarmetal2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarESP Sparrowhawk (Bill Kelliher signature)

AmpFriedman Butterslax 100-watt head (Bill Kelliher signature), Marshall JCM800 (used in combination for rhythm)

PickupsLace Dissonant Aggressor humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass6

mid6

treble7

reverb1.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording for 'Teardrinker' (2021, Hushed and Grim album). Rhythm/riff sections tracked with Kelliher's ESP Sparrowhawk through Friedman Butterslax and Marshall JCM800, using various cabinet combinations as per producer David Bottrill's direction. No explicit mention of pedals for rhythm/riff section; focus is on amp gain/distortion. No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in riff section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivesaturated high-gain distortionarticulate palm-muted chugsfocused low endharmonically richaggressive attackminimal ambiencedense, layered rhythm guitarsmodern metal clarityno audible modulation or delay

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, articulate palm muting and precise rhythm at a moderate tempo, with fast alternate picking and syncopated patterns typical of modern Mastodon. While not extremely technical, it demands solid metal rhythm technique and stamina.

Sources

Mastodon: Hinds & Kelliher's Journey to Redemption - Premier Guitar Mastodon's Brent Hinds & Bill Kelliher on making Hushed and Grim | Guitar World

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Guitarmetal2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarESP Sparrowhawk (Bill Kelliher signature)

AmpFriedman Butterslax 100-watt head (Bill Kelliher signature), Marshall JCM800 (used in combination for rhythm)

PickupsLace Dissonant Aggressor humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass6

mid6

treble7

reverb1.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Sources

Mastodon: Hinds & Kelliher's Journey to Redemption - Premier Guitar Mastodon's Brent Hinds & Bill Kelliher on making Hushed and Grim | Guitar World

Notes

Studio recording for 'Teardrinker' (2021, Hushed and Grim album). Rhythm/riff sections tracked with Kelliher's ESP Sparrowhawk through Friedman Butterslax and Marshall JCM800, using various cabinet combinations as per producer David Bottrill's direction. No explicit mention of pedals for rhythm/riff section; focus is on amp gain/distortion. No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in riff section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivesaturated high-gain distortionarticulate palm-muted chugsfocused low endharmonically richaggressive attackminimal ambiencedense, layered rhythm guitarsmodern metal clarityno audible modulation or delay

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, articulate palm muting and precise rhythm at a moderate tempo, with fast alternate picking and syncopated patterns typical of modern Mastodon. While not extremely technical, it demands solid metal rhythm technique and stamina.

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Teardrinker by Mastodon — Riff Tone Settings | ToneAdapt