🎸 Metal · 2000s

Second Heartbeat by Avenged Sevenfold (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

by Avenged Sevenfold · riff

The Second Heartbeat by Avenged Sevenfold guitar tone is built on a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head, dialed in at gain 8/10, bass 6, mid 6, treble 7, 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)

GAIN

BASS

MID

TREBLE

6.5

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 sits right around the metal average (7.3); mids at 6 are right around average (5.2).

Guitar controls

VOLUME

8-10

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: Schecter Synyster Gates Custom (likely early model, as used on Waking the Fallen) · Amp: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head

Studio recording, 2003 (Waking the Fallen album). No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the riff section. No evidence of additional pedals beyond possible boost/overdrive for tightening. No explicit pedalboard or effect chain for this song/section found in sources.

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ Mesa/Boogie songs & tones →🎚️ humbucker guitars songs & tones →🎚️ Tube Screamer songs & tones →🎚️ Mesa Dual Rectifier songs & tones →🎚️ Ibanez RG songs & tones →🎚️ Seymour Duncan pickups songs & tones →

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

Pickups

Bridge pickup

Signal chain

Schecter Synyster Gates Custom (likely early model, as used on Waking the Fallen) → Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (or similar low-gain overdrive, model not confirmed) → Noise gate (model unknown) → Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head

Effects

overdrive, noise_gate, reverb

Amp effects: Reverb (digital, level 2)

Tone character

tight and percussive, aggressive palm muting, articulate and defined attack, warm midrange focus, saturated high-gain, controlled low end, minimal ambience, modern metal clarity, slightly compressed, not scooped

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, fast tempo, aggressive dynamics · high-gain distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Second Heartbeat sound.

Difficulty

4/5 · Riff

The riff requires fast, accurate picking and tight palm muting at high speed, with complex rhythm patterns and precise synchronization, making it challenging for most intermediate players.

Worth knowing

No explicit studio pedalboard or amp knob settings for 'Second Heartbeat' riff found in sources; amp and settings estimated based on era, genre, and cited typical Synyster Gates rig.
No evidence of time-based or modulation effects (delay, chorus, flanger, etc.) in the riff section; only high-gain amp and possible boost/overdrive mentioned in general Avenged Sevenfold tone guides.
No evidence of effects loop use or specific pedal models for this song/section; settings are inferred from genre/era and typical band setup.
If more specific studio documentation emerges, settings and pedal chain may need revision.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Avenged Sevenfold's 'Second Heartbeat' riff tone is a tight, modern metal sound with high gain, slightly scooped but not hollow mids, tight bass, and cutting treble/presence. The band used Mesa/Boogie Rectifiers in this era, typically with little to no reverb and a focus on clarity and aggression.

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

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Second Heartbeat guitar tone — FAQ

What amp settings do I need for the Second Heartbeat guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 8, bass 6, mid 6, treble 7, presence 6.5, reverb 1. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Second Heartbeat tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: Schecter Synyster Gates Custom (likely early model, as used on Waking the Fallen) · Amp: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head; overdrive, noise_gate, reverb.

Can I get the Second Heartbeat 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 Avenged Sevenfold on Second Heartbeat — what gear and pedals?

Start with Bridge pickup, the amp EQ above (gain 8, bass 6, mid 6, treble 7, presence 6.5, reverb 1), and overdrive, noise_gate, reverb. 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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More like this

🎸 How to get Avenged Sevenfold’s guitar tone → · 🎸 more Metal guitar tones → · 🎚️ Mesa Dual Rectifier settings → · 🎛️ best metal amp settings → · 🎸 more iconic guitar riffs → · 🎚️ Overdrive tone guide → · 🎯 more scooped mids tones → · 📖 New to amp settings? What every knob does →

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