God Machine amp settings — Marshall VS56R

The Acid Bath guitar tone for “God Machine”, dialed in for a Marshall VS56R with a ESP LTD EC-256. Studio version, When the Kite String Pops (1994)

Original rig

Epiphone Sheraton II / Gibson Les Paul → Marshall half-stack (likely JCM800 or similar). Tuned to C# standard. Possible Boss HM-2 or similar heavy distortion influence based on the era's NOLA sludge sound.

Thick, grinding sludge with saturated low-mids, loose low-end, and abrasive upper harmonics — swampy and oppressive

Amp settings — Marshall VS56R

CHANNELClean (OD1/OD2 OFF)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	6
Mid	5
Treble	5
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss MT-2 Metal Zone

Primary gain source. The MT-2's scooped character needs mid compensation — keep Mid at 6 and Mid Freq around 400Hz (4) to retain the grinding midrange that defines sludge.

Level 7 · High 4 · Low 7 · Mid 6 · Mid Freq 4 · Dist 8

02Boss GE-7 Equalizer

After the MT-2 to thicken the low-mids (200-400Hz) and tame the fizzy highs. This restores the warm, swampy character the MT-2 tends to lose.

100Hz 6 · 200Hz 7 · 400Hz 6 · 800Hz 5 · 1.6kHz 4 · 3.2kHz 5 · 6.4kHz 4 · Level 5

03Stone Deaf PDF-2

Optional — use as a tone-shaping clean boost after the GE-7 to add body and roll off harsh treble. Keep Gain at 0 to avoid stacking dirt.

Gain 0 · Level 6 · Low Cut 3 · High Cut 6 · Frequency 5

Why these settings

The VS56R is a solid-state Valvestate hybrid with limited gain compared to a cranked JCM800. The MT-2 becomes the gain source while the amp stays clean to prevent muddy stacking. Your EC-256's humbuckers are hotter than a semi-hollow Sheraton, so the MT-2's Dist at 8 (not 10) prevents over-saturation. The GE-7 compensates for the MT-2's natural mid-scoop, which would kill the sludge tone's grinding character.

PRO TIPTune to C# standard (C# F# B E G# C#) — Acid Bath's low tuning is essential to the loose, swampy feel. Pick closer to the bridge with your thumb angled for that thick, grinding attack. Let notes ring and feedback slightly between riffs.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall VS56R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.