The Diamond Eyes by Deftones guitar tone is built on a Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II, dialed in at gain 8/10, bass 6, mid 5, treble 6.5, presence 6 (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 →Measured against the 284 metal tones in our researched catalog: Gain 8 sits right around the metal average (7.3); mids at 5 are right around average (5.2).
Guitar: ESP LTD SC-608B Stephen Carpenter Signature 8-string Baritone · Amp: Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II (tone-matched to studio amps, likely Marshall JMP-1 preamp + Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp, possibly blended with Bogner Uberschall and Soldano SLO-100)
Bridge pickup
ESP LTD SC-608B Stephen Carpenter Signature 8-string Baritone → Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II (tone-matched to studio amps, likely Marshall JMP-1 preamp + Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp, possibly blended with Bogner Uberschall and Soldano SLO-100)
ESP LTD SC-608B → Fractal Axe-Fx II (tone-matched high-gain amp models, digital reverb) → Studio interface
tight and percussive low end, crushing, saturated rhythm tone, articulate, extended-range clarity, aggressive palm muting, modern metal punch, slightly scooped mids, clear note separation, massive, wall-of-sound riffing, minimal ambience, focused, heavy attack
studio
straight, medium tempo, loud dynamics · high-gain distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Diamond Eyes sound.
3.5/5
The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting on an 8-string guitar in a low tuning, with syncopated rhythms and precise muting to maintain clarity and prevent muddiness. Intermediate to advanced players will find the physicality and rhythmic accuracy challenging.
Set your amp to roughly: gain 8, bass 6, mid 5, treble 6.5, presence 6, reverb 1. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.
Original gear/effects: Guitar: ESP LTD SC-608B Stephen Carpenter Signature 8-string Baritone · Amp: Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II (tone-matched to studio amps, likely Marshall JMP-1 preamp + Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp, possibly blended with Bogner Uberschall and Soldano SLO-100); ESP LTD SC-608B → Fractal Axe-Fx II (tone-matched high-gain amp models, digital reverb) → Studio interface.
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.
Start with Bridge pickup, the amp EQ above (gain 8, bass 6, mid 5, treble 6.5, presence 6, reverb 1), and ESP LTD SC-608B → Fractal Axe-Fx II (tone-matched high-gain amp models, digital reverb) → Studio interface. Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.
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