Riff Tone

Victim Of Changes

Judas Priest

Guitarmetal1970s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s, as used by both K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton on 'Sad Wings of Destiny')

AmpMarshall Super Lead 100 (Plexi, 1959 model, as used by Judas Priest in the mid-1970s)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, passive, 1970s era)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass5

mid7

treble7

reverb1

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1976, 'Sad Wings of Destiny' album. Both Downing and Tipton used Les Paul Customs through Marshall Super Leads for the main rhythm tracks. No evidence of pedals or effects other than amp reverb for the riff section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivemid-forward and articulateclassic British crunchaggressive palm mutingslight amp reverb for spaceclear note separationmoderate gain saturationno modulation or delaybridge pickup bitedynamic response to picking

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting and precise picking at a moderate tempo, with dynamic control to maintain clarity and articulation throughout the rhythm section.

Sources

K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton brought British steel to the world with Judas Priest – learn the secrets behind the metal gods’ seminal rhythm style | Guitar World Looking for a judas preist sound : r/BossKatana K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton dissect 17 of Judas Priest's loudest, fastest and toughest tracks | Guitar World

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