🎸 Metal · 2010s+

Buried Alive by Avenged Sevenfold (Riff · Clean) — Guitar Tone

by Avenged Sevenfold · riff

The Buried Alive by Avenged Sevenfold guitar tone is built on a EVH 5150 III, dialed in at gain 0/10, bass 5.5, mid 5, treble 7, presence 6.5 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

🎛️ These settings are for the original rig — re-dial them for YOUR amp in 10 seconds. Free, no signup →

Amp settings (0–10)

GAIN

5.5

BASS

MID

TREBLE

6.5

PRESENCE

2.5

REVERB

Community-researched baseline. Your rig is different — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials every knob for your specific guitar, amp and pickups.

How these settings compare

Measured against the 284 metal tones in our researched catalog: Gain 0 sits well below the metal average (7.3) — cleaner and more dynamic than typical metal; mids at 5 are right around average (5.2).

Guitar controls

8-9

VOLUME

7-8

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: Schecter Synyster Gates Custom (likely with Sustainiac neck pickup, as used in studio recordings of this era) · Amp: EVH 5150 III (clean channel, as used by Synyster Gates in studio for Nightmare album era)

Studio recording, 2010 (Nightmare album). No evidence of pedals for clean tone; amp/guitar combo does most of the work. Pickup and amp model inferred from artist's known studio rig for this album. No evidence of live rig or alternate gear for this section.

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ Peavey 5150 / 6505 songs & tones →🎚️ Seymour Duncan pickups songs & tones →

Don’t own this gear? GuitarToneAdapt re-creates the sound on the rig you actually have.

Pickups

Neck pickup (Sustainiac, likely in standard mode)

Signal chain

Schecter Synyster Gates Custom (likely with Sustainiac neck pickup, as used in studio recordings of this era) → EVH 5150 III (clean channel, as used by Synyster Gates in studio for Nightmare album era)

Effects

reverb

Amp effects: Reverb (digital, level 4)

Tone character

warm and glassy, clear and articulate, slightly compressed, smooth high end, rounded lows, no breakup or drive, subtle amp reverb, neck pickup fullness, studio-polished clarity, dynamic response to picking

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, medium tempo, soft dynamics · clean distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Buried Alive sound.

Difficulty

2.5/5 · Riff

The clean riff requires precise picking and dynamic control to maintain clarity and articulation, but does not involve advanced techniques or high speed.

Worth knowing

Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
No source provides exact numeric amp settings for the clean section; values estimated based on typical EVH 5150 III clean channel settings for this genre/era.
No source confirms exact pickup selector position, but neck pickup is strongly inferred from tone and artist's habits.
No evidence of pedals or additional effects in the clean section; amp reverb only.
Pedal and effect settings are not specified in any source; absence of modulation/delay/chorus inferred from audio and user reports.
If more precise studio notes or isolated track analysis becomes available, update settings accordingly.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Synyster Gates uses high-gain modern amps (often Mesa/Boogie Rectifiers) with tight, punchy lows, slightly scooped but not hollow mids, and clear, articulate highs for Avenged Sevenfold's 'Buried Alive.' The tone is saturated but defined, with minimal reverb for a dry, aggressive metal sound.

⚡ Same tone, YOUR gear — re-dials the gain & EQ for your amp and pickups, free →

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Buried Alive guitar tone — FAQ

What amp settings do I need for the Buried Alive guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 0, bass 5.5, mid 5, treble 7, presence 6.5, reverb 2.5. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Buried Alive tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: Schecter Synyster Gates Custom (likely with Sustainiac neck pickup, as used in studio recordings of this era) · Amp: EVH 5150 III (clean channel, as used by Synyster Gates in studio for Nightmare album era); reverb.

Can I get the Buried Alive tone on a different guitar or amp?

Yes. Different guitars and amps need different knob positions to sound the same. GuitarToneAdapt models pickup output and wood brightness, then compensates so you match the record on your own rig.

How do I sound like Avenged Sevenfold on Buried Alive — what gear and pedals?

Start with Neck pickup (Sustainiac, likely in standard mode), the amp EQ above (gain 0, bass 5.5, mid 5, treble 7, presence 6.5, reverb 2.5), and reverb. Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.

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Sources

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More like this

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Settings are community-researched estimates, not official. GuitarToneAdapt adapts them to your gear. guitartoneadapt.com