In the physical world, Synyster Gates is renowned for his custom Schecter guitars, typically equipped with Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers. These high-output passive pickups deliver an aggressive, tight low end and a harmonically rich midrange that cuts through dense mixes. They provide the explosive attack needed for heavy metal riffing while maintaining exceptional clarity for complex solos. The band’s amplifier choices are equally legendary. They have historically relied on high-gain workhorses like the Peavey 6505 and the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier—amplifiers famous for their powerful distortion, dynamic range, and ability to produce a tight, punchy sound.
Every great modern metal tone utilizes an overdrive pedal in front of the amplifier to act as a clean boost. This tightens up the low end, removes unwanted "mud," and pushes the amp's front end into aggressive compression. amplitube 5 avenged sevenfold
Synyster Gates often uses his volume knob to clean up his tone, rather than switching channels. In the physical world, Synyster Gates is renowned
For more tips, tell me what guitar you are using, and I can suggest specific pickup settings. The band’s amplifier choices are equally legendary
Crucial for high-gain metal. Use the built-in Noise Gate in the stomp section to keep staccato riffs tight and quiet. Delay/Reverb (Post-Amp): A subtle digital delay for solos. Crafting Specific A7X Tones Rhythm Tone ("Hail to the King" Era) Amp: Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier. Stomp: T-Screamer (Gain: 1, Volume: 8, Tone: 5). EQ: Boost at Hz slightly, cut at Hz to remove "muddiness." Cab: 4x12 loaded with V30s. Solo Tone ("City of Evil" / "White Album" Era) Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IV. Stomp: Delay (short delay time, low feedback). EQ: Boost upper-mids (around kHz) for presence and cut some bass. Compression: Light compression to add sustain to notes. Pro-Tips for Realism
: Start with a high-gain amp model. The Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier is a fantastic starting point. To emulate the band's preference for a mid-focused, "British-voiced" sound, try pairing a Rectifier-style model (powerful low-end) with a British-style amp (like the Marshall JCM800 2203 ) in a dual-amp setup, or use the British-voiced ENGL Powerball for a tighter, more aggressive character.