Tone library / Emperor / I Am the Black Wizards

I Am the Black Wizards amp settings — Moeer Sd80

The Emperor guitar tone for “I Am the Black Wizards”, dialed in for a Moeer Sd80 with a Washburn HV 40 vindicator. Studio version, In the Nightside Eclipse (1994) / Emperor EP (1993)

Original rig

Marshall JCM800 / Valvestate + Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal / early Boss dirt + Jackson / Ibanez guitars with bridge humbuckers (recorded at Grieghallen Studios with Pytten)

Cold, abrasive, high-treble Norwegian black metal chainsaw buzz with tight bass cut
Amp settings — Moeer Sd80
CHANNELHigh Gain / US Modern style modelBOOSTon
GAIN 8 BASS 3 MID 6 TREBLE 9 REVERB 2 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain8
Bass3
Mid6
Treble9
Reverb2
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Mooer Internal Drive / Distortion (HM-2 style / Metal Dirt block)

Enable an aggressive distortion block in the Mooer SD80 preset chain before the amp model

Gain 8 · Tone 8 · Level 7
Why these settings

The Washburn HV 40 bridge humbucker gives ample output, but Emperor's signature Grieghallen sound relies on severe low-end roll-off and harsh upper-treble bite. On the Mooer SD80, keep the bass low at 3 to prevent mud in fast tremolo picking, push treble to 9, and keep mids around 6 so chord extensions remain audible through the swarm of distortion. The Mooer SD80 faceplate has no dedicated presence control, so presence is nulled.

PRO TIPPick extremely close to the bridge saddle using stiff, rapid tremolo picking across full barres and open high strings to generate the icy, cutting harmonic wash characteristic of early 90s Norwegian black metal.

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These settings are for a Moeer Sd80. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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