Digital Bath by Deftones (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

The Digital Bath by Deftones guitar tone is built on a Marshall JMP-1 Preamp into Marshall 9200 Power Amp, dialed in at gain 7/10, bass 6, mid 5.5, treble 6.5, presence 6 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

Amp settings (0–10)

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 7 sits right around the metal average (7.3); mids at 5.5 are right around average (5.2).

Guitar controls

Original gear

Guitar: ESP Stef B-7 (Stephen Carpenter signature 7-string, likely used for main riff) · Amp: Marshall JMP-1 Preamp into Marshall 9200 Power Amp (studio recording era setup)

Studio recording, year 2000 (White Pony album). Stephen Carpenter is credited for the main riff. Guitar and amp based on era-correct studio rig; no direct evidence of alternate guitars for this section.

Gear used on this tone

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

Pickups

Bridge pickup

Signal chain

ESP Stef B-7 (Stephen Carpenter signature 7-string, likely used for main riff) → Delay pedal (model unknown, analog-style with modulation) → Filter modulation pedal (model unknown, possibly Moogerfooger MuRF or similar) → Plate reverb pedal (model unknown, possibly rack or studio unit) → Marshall JMP-1 Preamp into Marshall 9200 Power Amp (studio recording era setup)

Effects

delay, modulation, reverb

Tone character

lush and ambient, dreamy and atmospheric, hypnotic echoes, subtle movement, filtered modulation, analog-style delay repeats, plate reverb depth, not high-gain, more edge-of-breakup, stereo spaciousness, smooth, liquid-like clean/edge

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, slow tempo, medium dynamics · edge distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Digital Bath sound.

Difficulty

3.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires intermediate skill due to its syncopated picking, the need to play cleanly with heavy delay/modulation, and careful control of note length and muting to avoid a washed-out sound.

Worth knowing

• No direct studio photo or interview confirms exact pedal models used on the original recording; pedal/effect choices are based on later signature pedals, artist interviews, and audible effects in the recording.
• Amp settings are estimated based on typical Marshall JMP-1/9200 usage in the era and genre.
• Guitar model is inferred from Stephen Carpenter's known studio rig for White Pony; no direct photo from the session.
• Delay and modulation effects are clearly audible, but exact pedal models on the original recording are not confirmed.
• Chino Moreno's signature KHDK Digital Bath pedal is a modern recreation, not used on the original 2000 recording.
• Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Chino Moreno's 'Digital Bath' tone is saturated and smooth but not overly scooped, with tight lows, slightly reduced mids, and airy highs typical of late-90s/early-2000s nu-metal. The amp is set for high gain with moderate bass and presence, minimal reverb, and a touch of mid scoop for clarity and space.

Digital Bath guitar tone — FAQ

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Sources

• KHDK captures Deftones' Digital Bath tone in a pedal | Guitar World
• “Digital Bath is the most complex pedal we have ever developed. It took us nearly two years to get it absolutely perfect”: KHDK teams up with Chino Moreno for a delay that promises “immersive, melancholic textures” and an iconic Deftones tone | MusicRadar
• Help getting Deftones Digital Bath tone | The Gear Page
• Rig Rundown - Deftones' Stephen Carpenter - Premier Guitar

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