🎸 Metal · 2000s

Minerva by Deftones (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

by Deftones · riff

The Minerva by Deftones guitar tone is built on a Marshall JCM800, dialed in at gain 8.5/10, bass 6, mid 6, treble 6.5, presence 6.5 (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

MID

6.5

TREBLE

6.5

PRESENCE

1.5

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 6 are right around average (5.2).

Guitar controls

VOLUME

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: ESP Stef B-7 (7-string, likely custom shop, used by Stephen Carpenter on 'Minerva') · Amp: Marshall JCM800 (hot-rodded, studio recording)

Studio recording, 2002-2003 (Deftones 'Deftones' album sessions). Guitar is tuned to G# standard as per source 4. No direct evidence of pedals in the riff section; tone is described as coming 'purely out of a hot-rodded Marshall JCM800.'

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ Marshall JCM800 songs & tones →🎚️ Marshall songs & tones →🎚️ humbucker guitars songs & tones →🎚️ EMG active pickups songs & tones →

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

Pickups

Bridge pickup (EMG 81-7 active humbucker)

Signal chain

ESP Stef B-7 (7-string, likely custom shop, used by Stephen Carpenter on 'Minerva') → Marshall JCM800 (hot-rodded, studio recording)

Effects

ESP Stef B-7 (EMG 81-7 bridge) → Marshall JCM800 (hot-rodded, spring reverb low)

Amp effects: Reverb (spring, level 2)

Tone character

warm and drony, wall of sound, fuzzy but not overly saturated, rich low end, full-bodied, layered and thick, slightly compressed, not scooped, strong mids, sustaining chords, clear despite high gain

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 Minerva sound.

Difficulty

3.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires intermediate technique due to extended range, heavy gain control, and the need for tight, consistent rhythm to achieve the layered wall of sound characteristic of the track.

Worth knowing

No direct numeric amp settings found in sources; settings estimated based on Marshall JCM800 typical usage for modern metal and forum descriptions.
No explicit pedal use confirmed for riff section; tone described as coming directly from amp.
No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in riff section; wall of sound achieved via amp gain and layering.
Pickup model inferred from Stephen Carpenter's known gear for this era and EMG 81-7's prevalence in his 7-string ESPs.
If alternate gear or pedal info is found in future, settings may need revision.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Deftones' 'Minerva' features a saturated, thick modern metal tone with controlled low end, slightly scooped mids, and clear but not harsh highs, typical of Stef Carpenter's Mesa/Peavey setups from this era. The reverb is minimal for tightness, and the presence is boosted for clarity in the dense mix.

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

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Minerva guitar tone — FAQ

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

Set your amp to roughly: gain 8.5, bass 6, mid 6, treble 6.5, presence 6.5, reverb 1.5. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Minerva tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: ESP Stef B-7 (7-string, likely custom shop, used by Stephen Carpenter on 'Minerva') · Amp: Marshall JCM800 (hot-rodded, studio recording); ESP Stef B-7 (EMG 81-7 bridge) → Marshall JCM800 (hot-rodded, spring reverb low).

Can I get the Minerva 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 Minerva — what gear and pedals?

Start with Bridge pickup (EMG 81-7 active humbucker), the amp EQ above (gain 8.5, bass 6, mid 6, treble 6.5, presence 6.5, reverb 1.5), and ESP Stef B-7 (EMG 81-7 bridge) → Marshall JCM800 (hot-rodded, spring reverb low). Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.

Share this tone

Sources

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