Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

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.

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 8 sits right around the metal average (7.3); mids at 7 are above average (5.2) — mid-forward, built to cut through a mix.

Original gear

Amp: Marshall JCM800 2205 (50W)

Tom Morello recorded Killing in the Name with a Fender Telecaster into a Marshall JCM800 2205 in Drop D. The solo's signature pitch-scratch is a DigiTech Whammy WH-1 at +2 octaves; the intro swirl is an MXR Phase 90 (originally an Ibanez flanger). A DOD EQ pedal boosts the solos. Source: Guitar Chalk + Music Strive.

Gear used on this tone

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

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.

Difficulty

3/5 · Riff

The riff is simple but the groove, tightness and the Whammy solo trick are what make it — feel over speed.

Level: Beginner-friendly — see more easy guitar songs to play →

Worth knowing

• 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.

Killing in the Name guitar tone — FAQ

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Sources

• Tone Settings for Killing in the Name by RATM — Guitar Chalk
• Tom Morello Amp Settings — Music Strive

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