Riff Tone

Toxicity

System Of A Down

Guitarmetal2000s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (black, as seen in Toxicity recording sessions)

AmpMarshall JCM800 (studio recording, 2001 era; some sources mention Mode Four or Peavey 5150 II for live, but JCM800 is most likely for clean studio tones)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (exact model unspecified, likely stock Les Paul Standard pickups for this era)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5.5

mid5.5

treble7

reverb1

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 2001. Daron Malakian is seen with a black Gibson Les Paul Standard in the studio for Toxicity. Clean sections likely used the JCM800 set clean or just at breakup, with no pedals in the chain for clean parts. No evidence of pedals or effects for clean tone in the studio; live gear varied.

Tone Character(10)

clear and bell-likearticulate and percussivewarm but not muddyslightly compressedtight low endpresent midsno audible breakupdynamic responsestudio clarityno modulation or delay

Difficulty

The clean riff requires precise picking and dynamic control to maintain clarity and articulation, but does not involve advanced techniques or high speed.

Sources

Daron Malakian — Equipboard System Of A Down Pedal? - forum topic | Ultimate Guitar Daron Malakian: 21st Century Schizoid Man - Guitar World SOAD clean tone on guitar? : r/systemofadown - Reddit

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