Riff Tone
The Killing Road
Megadeth
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarJackson King V (likely Dave Mustaine's signature or custom shop model, as used on Youthanasia sessions)
AmpCustom Audio Electronics CAE 3+ preamp into VHT 2150 power amp, Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion V30s and Greenbacks
PickupsSeymour Duncan JB (bridge humbucker, as per Mustaine's typical setup in this era)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
mid4.5
treble7
reverb1
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1994 (Youthanasia sessions). Both Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman used CAE 3+ preamps and VHT 2150 power amps for rhythm tracks on this album. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this specific riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivescooped midsaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationchunky low endrazor-sharp pick attackarticulate note separationminimal ambiencedry, focused rhythm soundclassic mid-90s thrash metal tone
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and tight palm muting at a medium-fast tempo, with complex rhythm changes and precise synchronization, making it challenging for most players.
Sources
This tone has been researched 2 times by the community
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarJackson King V (likely Dave Mustaine's signature or custom shop model, as used on Youthanasia sessions)
AmpCustom Audio Electronics CAE 3+ preamp into VHT 2150 power amp, Marshall 4x12 cabinet with Celestion V30s and Greenbacks
PickupsSeymour Duncan JB (bridge humbucker, as per Mustaine's typical setup in this era)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
mid4.5
treble7
reverb1
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
This tone has been researched 2 times by the community
Notes
Studio recording, 1994 (Youthanasia sessions). Both Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman used CAE 3+ preamps and VHT 2150 power amps for rhythm tracks on this album. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this specific riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivescooped midsaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationchunky low endrazor-sharp pick attackarticulate note separationminimal ambiencedry, focused rhythm soundclassic mid-90s thrash metal tone
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and tight palm muting at a medium-fast tempo, with complex rhythm changes and precise synchronization, making it challenging for most players.
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