🎸 Metal · 2000s

Kimdracula by Deftones (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

by Deftones · riff

The Kimdracula by Deftones guitar tone is built on a Peavey 5150, dialed in at gain 8.5/10, bass 6, mid 4.5, 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 →

Amp settings (0–10)

8.5

GAIN

BASS

4.5

MID

6.5

TREBLE

PRESENCE

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 8.5 sits above the metal average (7.3) — a hotter, more saturated take than most metal tones; mids at 4.5 are right around average (5.2).

Guitar controls

VOLUME

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: ESP Stef B-7 (Stephen Carpenter signature 7-string, likely baritone scale, mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard) · Amp: Peavey 5150 (original block letter, high-gain tube head, likely with matching 4x12 cab)

Studio recording, 2006 (Saturday Night Wrist album). Stephen Carpenter is known to use the ESP Stef B-7 with EMG 81-7 pickups and Peavey 5150 for heavy rhythm tones in this era. No evidence of live rig or alternate gear for this specific song/section.

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ humbucker guitars songs & tones →🎚️ Peavey 5150 / 6505 songs & tones →🎚️ EMG active pickups songs & tones →🎚️ ESP / ESP LTD guitars songs & tones →

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 baritone scale, mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard) → Noise Gate pedal (model unknown) → Peavey 5150 (original block letter, high-gain tube head, likely with matching 4x12 cab)

Effects

noise_gate, spring_reverb (amp)

Amp effects: Reverb (spring, level 2)

Tone character

tight and percussive, scooped mids, aggressive palm muting, high-gain saturation, articulate low-end, crushing modern metal rhythm, clear note separation, slightly compressed attack, minimal ambience, dense, layered guitar wall

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, medium tempo, loud dynamics · high-gain distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Kimdracula sound.

Difficulty

3.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires tight, percussive palm muting and precise rhythm in a low tuning, with attention to muting and articulation to maintain clarity in high-gain settings.

Worth knowing

No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for 'Kimdracula'; settings estimated based on typical Peavey 5150 usage for Deftones in this era and genre.
No explicit pedal or effect usage for this song/section found in sources; effects chain inferred from audio and known rig.
No evidence of modulation, delay, or reverb effects in the riff section; tone is dry and direct.
Pickup and amp model inferred from Stephen Carpenter's known studio rig for 'Saturday Night Wrist' era.
If more detailed studio notes or interviews surface, settings may need revision.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Deftones' 'Kimdracula' riff tone is saturated and aggressive but not overly scooped, with tight low end and slightly recessed mids typical of Stef Carpenter's 7/8-string metal tones from the 'Saturday Night Wrist' era. The amp is set for modern high gain with a dry, punchy mix, and presence/treble are boosted for clarity without harshness.

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

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Kimdracula guitar tone — FAQ

What amp settings do I need for the Kimdracula guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 8.5, bass 6, mid 4.5, treble 6.5, presence 6, reverb 1. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Kimdracula tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: ESP Stef B-7 (Stephen Carpenter signature 7-string, likely baritone scale, mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard) · Amp: Peavey 5150 (original block letter, high-gain tube head, likely with matching 4x12 cab); noise_gate, spring_reverb (amp).

Can I get the Kimdracula 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 Deftones on Kimdracula — what gear and pedals?

Start with Bridge pickup, the amp EQ above (gain 8.5, bass 6, mid 4.5, treble 6.5, presence 6, reverb 1), and noise_gate, spring_reverb (amp). Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.

Share this tone

Sources

Deftones Chi Cheng Bass all song tunings - Reddit

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