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rhythm guitar from “symphony of destruction” by megadeth | ToneDB

symphony of destruction

megadeth

rhythm guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Aggressive, tight, and articulate high-gain rhythm guitar tone with a slightly scooped midrange, providing clarity and punch. It's a modern thrash metal sound that's both heavy and precise.

Gear

Jackson King Vinstrument
Reverb$430Sweetwater
Bogner Ecstasyamp
Reverb$197Sweetwater
Shure SM57microphone
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

The rhythm guitars on "Symphony of Destruction" were recorded at The Enterprise in Burbank, CA by producer Max Norman. The tone was achieved using a Jackson King V guitar with humbucker pickups through a Bogner Ecstasy amplifier, captured with a Shure SM57 microphone on the guitar cabinet. The modern thrash metal sound featured high gain settings with a slightly scooped midrange EQ to achieve the aggressive yet articulate character.

Production Credits

Producer: Max Norman

Engineer: Dave Mustaine

Recorded at: The Enterprise (Burbank, CA)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Jackson King V

Amp: Bogner Ecstasy

Microphone: Shure SM57

Recreation Tips

  • Use a guitar with high-output humbucker pickups to capture the aggressive tone of the original recording.
  • Set your amp to a high-gain setting, but avoid excessive muddiness. Adjust the EQ to scoop the midrange frequencies slightly, emphasizing the bass and treble for a modern metal sound.
  • Experiment with microphone placement on the cabinet to find the sweet spot that captures the amp's character.
  • Use a noise gate to tighten up the sound and eliminate unwanted noise, especially during silent parts.

Original Gear

  • Jackson King V(guitar)
  • Bogner Ecstasy(amp)
  • Shure SM57(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Jackson JS32 King V$250-$350

Alternative to: Jackson King V

Budget Jackson with dual humbuckers that delivers the aggressive pickup output needed for this high-gain tone

ReverbSweetwater
Jackson Pro Series King V KV2$800-$1000

Alternative to: Jackson King V

Modern Jackson with Seymour Duncan pickups that closely matches the original's high-output humbucker sound and sustain

ReverbSweetwater
Bogner Ecstasy 20th Anniversary$3500-$4000

Alternative to: Bogner Ecstasy

Current production version of the same amp model used on the recording with identical high-gain characteristics

ReverbSweetwater
Neural DSP Fortin Nameless Suite$120-$150

Alternative to: Bogner Ecstasy

Plugin modeling that captures modern high-gain tones with the tight, articulate character similar to the Ecstasy

ReverbSweetwater
EVH 5150III 50W$1200-$1500

Alternative to: Bogner Ecstasy

Modern high-gain amp that delivers similar tight, aggressive tones with excellent note definition for thrash rhythm work

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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