Metal amp settings — Vox Valvetronix

The Dimebag darrel guitar tone for “Metal”, dialed in for a Vox Valvetronix with a Gibson Explorer. Studio version, Power Metal (1988) - early Pantera glam-era track

Original rig

Randall RG100ES solid-state head, Dean ML with Bill Lawrence L-500XL pickup, MXR 6-band EQ, Furman PQ-3 parametric EQ, MXR Flanger/Doubler

Scooped mid, aggressive high-gain with fizzy solid-state edge, tight bass, cutting treble

Amp settings — Vox Valvetronix

CHANNELUS Hi Gain (closest to Randall solid-state voicing)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	8
Mid	3
Treble	8
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Valvetronix US Hi Gain model approximates the Randall's solid-state aggression. Dimebag's signature was a heavily scooped mid (3-4) with bass at 8 and treble pushed high. The Vox is warmer and more compressed than the Randall's raw fizz, so treble is pulled back from Dime's 10 to 8 to avoid brittle ice-pick frequencies. Your Explorer's mahogany body and humbuckers match his Dean ML well - both have thick low-mids.

PRO TIPDimebag's pick attack was critical - use heavy picks (1mm+) and strike hard directly over the bridge pickup with your wrist locked for that percussive chunk on palm-muted riffs.

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

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