rhythm guitar from “holy wars the punishment due” by megadeth | ToneDB
holy wars the punishment due
megadeth
rhythm guitar
Tone Profile
The rhythm guitar tone is aggressive and tight, with a slightly scooped mid-range that provides a clear and articulate heavy metal sound. It's characterized by high gain and precision, essential for the complex riffs and harmonies.
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The Story
Dave Mustaine used a Jackson King V with high-output humbuckers through a Bogner Fish Preamp for the rhythm guitars on "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" from Megadeth's 1990 album "Rust in Peace." The album was recorded at Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles with producer Max Norman, who was known for his work with heavy metal acts and helped craft the tight, scooped sound using close-miked SM57s and strategic EQing.
Production Credits
Producer: Dave Mustaine, Max Norman
Engineer: Max Norman
Recorded at: Rumbo Recorders, Los Angeles, CA
Signal Chain
Instrument: Jackson King VShop on Reverb
Amp: Bogner Fish PreampShop on Reverb
Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb
Processing: TC Electronic 2290Shop on Reverb, Eventide H3000Shop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a guitar equipped with high-output humbucker pickups for a similar aggressive tone.
- Use a high-gain amp setting or a distortion pedal to achieve the required level of saturation.
- Experiment with EQ to scoop the mids slightly, but be careful not to lose too much body in the sound.
- Consider using a noise gate to keep the tone tight and controlled, especially during fast, intricate riffs.
- Double-track the guitar parts for added thickness and stereo width.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Jackson King V
High-output EMG pickups and similar V-shaped design for aggressive metal rhythm playing
Alternative to: Bogner Fish Preamp
Captures high-gain preamp saturation with tight low-end response for precise metal rhythms
Alternative to: Bogner Fish Preamp
High-gain amp head with tight response and mid-scooped character for modern metal tones
Alternative to: TC Electronic 2290
Digital delay with precise timing control for rhythmic doubling effects
Alternative to: Eventide H3000
Modern Eventide harmonizer with pitch shifting and modulation effects from the original H3000
Alternative to: Shure SM57
Same dynamic microphone used on the original recording, still the standard for guitar amp miking
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