Riff Tone
The Hellion
Judas Priest
Guitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing on Screaming for Vengeance)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1982)
PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge humbucker, as commonly used by Tipton/Downing in this era)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass5.5
mid6
treble6
reverb0.5
presence7
Effects & Signal Chain
overdriveUnknown Overdrive pedal (likely Ibanez Tube Screamer or similar, model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording for 'Screaming for Vengeance' (1982). Both Tipton and Downing used Les Paul Customs with high-output humbuckers into Marshall JCM800 amps. No evidence of live/touring gear or alternate guitars for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiveaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationfocused midrangecutting presencearticulate attackminimal ambiencemetallic edgeBritish crunchpunchy low end
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting and precise alternate picking at a medium-fast tempo, with a need for clean articulation and rhythmic accuracy under high-gain conditions.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s/early 1980s, as used by Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing on Screaming for Vengeance)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1982)
PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge humbucker, as commonly used by Tipton/Downing in this era)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass5.5
mid6
treble6
reverb0.5
presence7
Effects & Signal Chain
overdriveUnknown Overdrive pedal (likely Ibanez Tube Screamer or similar, model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording for 'Screaming for Vengeance' (1982). Both Tipton and Downing used Les Paul Customs with high-output humbuckers into Marshall JCM800 amps. No evidence of live/touring gear or alternate guitars for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiveaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationfocused midrangecutting presencearticulate attackminimal ambiencemetallic edgeBritish crunchpunchy low end
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting and precise alternate picking at a medium-fast tempo, with a need for clean articulation and rhythmic accuracy under high-gain conditions.
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