Tone library / If It Bleeds / (Sic)

(Sic) amp settings — Mesa Boogie Mark V

The If It Bleeds guitar tone for “(Sic)”, dialed in for a Mesa Boogie Mark V with a Fender Jim Root Telecaster. Studio version, Slipknot (1999) - '(sic)' main rhythm riff

Original rig

Mesa Boogie DC-10 / Dual Rectifier + Jackson/Ibanez with EMG 81 bridge pickup into Mesa 4x12 cab

Aggressive, razor-sharp high-gain nu-metal crunch with tight low end and biting upper-mids
Amp settings — Mesa Boogie Mark V
CHANNELChannel 3 (Extreme or Mark IV mode)BRIGHToff
GAIN 7 BASS 4 MID 5 TREBLE 7 PRESENCE 6 REVERB 0 MASTER 4
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass4
Mid5
Treble7
Presence6
Reverb0
Master4
Don’t have a Mesa Boogie Mark V? Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Why these settings

The Mark V's Channel 3 in Mark IV or Extreme mode provides the tight, focused percussive attack used on early Slipknot recordings. Keep the pre-gain bass control low around 4 to prevent flub in Drop B tuning, and use the 5-band graphic EQ in a classic 'V' shape (boost 80Hz and 6.6kHz, cut 750Hz) to achieve the aggressive Iowa/self-titled low-end punch. Your EMG 81 bridge pickup matches the exact output and brightness of the original track.

PRO TIPTune to Drop B (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#) with heavy gauge strings (e.g., 11-56 or 12-60) and use forceful, tight palm muting right against the bridge saddles for maximum percussive chunk.

Get this tone on your amp

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

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play
More tones for the Mesa Boogie Mark V
LaylaEric claptonПаладин (2017)Fun ModeBreedNirvanaDiary of janeBreaking benjaminChooloLocal train
Find your amp
Browse
Mesa Boogie Mark V settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Fender Jim Root Telecaster tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.

Get ToneAdapt — first match free