🎸 Metal · 2010s+

Sleep Walk by Deftones (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

by Deftones · riff

The Sleep Walk by Deftones guitar tone is built on a Fractal Axe-Fx II, dialed in at gain 8.5/10, bass 6.5, mid 3, treble 6, presence 3.5 (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

6.5

BASS

MID

TREBLE

3.5

PRESENCE

0.5

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 3 are well below average (5.2) — a real scoop; it sounds huge alone but can vanish in a band mix; presence 3.5 is well below average — a smoother power-amp voicing.

Guitar controls

VOLUME

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: ESP Stef B-8 8-string · Amp: Fractal Axe-Fx II (amp modeling), Engl Tube Poweramp E850/100, Orange 4x12 cabinets

Studio recording, 2020 (Ohms album). Stephen Carpenter used his signature 8-string ESP with EMG 808 pickups and a Fractal Axe-Fx II for amp modeling, running into an Engl Tube Poweramp and Orange 4x12 cabs. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this track's riff section.

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ humbucker guitars songs & tones →🎚️ ENGL songs & tones →🎚️ EMG active pickups songs & tones →🎚️ ESP / ESP LTD guitars songs & tones →🎚️ Fractal Axe-FX 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-8 8-string → Fractal Axe-Fx II (amp modeling), Engl Tube Poweramp E850/100, Orange 4x12 cabinets

Effects

ESP Stef B-8 8-string → Fractal Axe-Fx II (high-gain amp model, no effects) → Engl Tube Poweramp → Orange 4x12 cabinets

Tone character

tight, percussive low end, scooped mids for clarity, aggressive, saturated distortion, articulate attack, extended low range from 8-string, minimal ambience, focused, modern metal rhythm, crushing, heavy riffing, clear note separation, no audible reverb or delay

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

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

Difficulty

3.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires tight, percussive palm muting and precise rhythm on an 8-string guitar, with syncopated patterns and clear articulation despite high gain, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.

Worth knowing

Amp settings are from a user-reported ChB (likely referencing a Fractal Axe-Fx II preset for Deftones) and may not be the exact studio settings, but match the genre/era/artist's typical tone.
No direct evidence of pedals or effects used on the riff section; all effects information is based on source review and critical listening.
No explicit pickup selector info found, but bridge pickup is standard for Deftones rhythm tones.
No evidence of reverb, delay, or modulation effects in the riff section; settings reflect a dry, tight metal rhythm sound.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Deftones' 'Sleep Walk' riff features a saturated, modern metal tone with tight low end, slightly scooped mids, and clear but not harsh highs. Steph Carpenter typically uses high-gain amps (like the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier) with moderate bass, slightly reduced mids, and moderate treble/presence for clarity, while keeping reverb minimal for a dry, punchy sound.

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

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Sleep Walk guitar tone — FAQ

What amp settings do I need for the Sleep Walk guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 8.5, bass 6.5, mid 3, treble 6, presence 3.5, reverb 0.5. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Sleep Walk tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: ESP Stef B-8 8-string · Amp: Fractal Axe-Fx II (amp modeling), Engl Tube Poweramp E850/100, Orange 4x12 cabinets; ESP Stef B-8 8-string → Fractal Axe-Fx II (high-gain amp model, no effects) → Engl Tube Poweramp → Orange 4x12 cabinets.

Can I get the Sleep Walk 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 Sleep Walk — what gear and pedals?

Start with Bridge pickup, the amp EQ above (gain 8.5, bass 6.5, mid 3, treble 6, presence 3.5, reverb 0.5), and ESP Stef B-8 8-string → Fractal Axe-Fx II (high-gain amp model, no effects) → Engl Tube Poweramp → Orange 4x12 cabinets. Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.

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Sources

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