Riff Tone

Tragedy + Time

Rise Against

Guitarpunk2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 2000s-2010s, as used by Zach Blair on 'The Black Market' album)

AmpMesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, as per genre/era and known band preferences)

PickupsSeymour Duncan JB (bridge humbucker, as per typical Rise Against studio setup for this era)

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass6

mid5.5

treble7

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionUnknown Distortion pedal (model unknown, likely used for boost)

Notes

Studio recording for 'Tragedy + Time' (2014, The Black Market album). No direct source confirms the exact guitar/amp for this song, but Rise Against's guitarist Zach Blair is widely documented using a Gibson Les Paul Standard with Seymour Duncan JB pickups into a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier for studio rhythm tones in this era. No evidence of alternate guitars/amps for this riff section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiveaggressive and articulatechunky low enddefined note separationcompressed and punchymodern high-gain saturationminimal ambiencefocused midrangeslightly scooped but presentcrisp attack

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking with tight palm muting and precise timing, typical of modern punk rhythm guitar. While not technically advanced in terms of note choice, the speed and tightness demand solid intermediate technique.