What amp settings do I need for the Killing in the Name guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 8, bass 7, mid 7, treble 7, presence 7, reverb 1. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

Can I get the Killing in the Name 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.

🎸 Funk Metal · 1992

Killing in the Name (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

Q: What gear was used for the Killing in the Name tone?

Original gear/effects: Amp: Marshall JCM800 2205 (50W); Marshall JCM800 2205 amp distortion (aggressive, mid-present), DigiTech Whammy +2 octave (the signature solo 'turntable scratch'), MXR Phase 90 (intro swirl), DOD FX40B EQ as a solo volume boost; Cry Baby wah.

by Rage Against the Machine · riff

The Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine guitar tone is built on a Marshall JCM800 2205, dialed in at gain 8/10, bass 7, mid 7, treble 7, presence 7 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

🎛️ Adapt this tone to YOUR guitar & amp — free →

Amp settings (0–10)

GAIN

BASS

MID

TREBLE

PRESENCE

REVERB

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

Original gear

Amp: Marshall JCM800 2205 (50W)

Pickups

Single-coil/Telecaster or humbucker bridge into a cranked Marshall for tight, aggressive Drop-D crunch

Effects / signal chain

Marshall JCM800 2205 amp distortion (aggressive, mid-present), DigiTech Whammy +2 octave (the signature solo 'turntable scratch'), MXR Phase 90 (intro swirl), DOD FX40B EQ as a solo volume boost; Cry Baby wah

Tone character

aggressive, mid-present, tight Drop-D groove, Marshall crunch, funky, whammy solo

Recording context

Funk/rap metal, 1992; Drop-D Telecaster into a cranked Marshall JCM800 with a Whammy and Phase 90

How it’s played

explosive Drop-D funk-metal protest anthem — tight verse groove to a furious chant outro, mid, heavy groove tempo, builds from tight groove to all-out rage dynamics · high-gain distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Killing in the Name sound.

What makes the Killing in the Name part tricky

Drop D tuning and tight, syncopated funk-metal palm muting, locking the riff to the groove, the Whammy +2-octave solo technique, controlling dynamics into the explosive outro. GuitarToneAdapt gets the tone right so you can focus on the playing.

Note: Tom Morello runs a Marshall JCM800 aggressive and mid-present (bass and mids up). Tuning is Drop D. The signature solo 'turntable scratch' is a DigiTech Whammy set to +2 octaves, and the intro swirl is an MXR Phase 90. Knob numbers are community-researched estimates — Morello's feel, the Whammy and the Drop D groove are the magic.

Get these exact settings for your rig →

🎧 Can you guess the tone?

Recognise famous songs from just the amp dials — a quick 10-round game. Beat your friends. Play free →