Tone library / Judas Priest / Painkiller

Painkiller amp settings — Freeman Sm15

The Judas Priest guitar tone for “Painkiller”, dialed in for a Freeman Sm15 with a Cort X100. Studio album cut, Painkiller (1990)

Original rig

Marshall JCM800 2203/2204 + Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabs, custom boost / Boss OD, Hamer Mini V & Gibson SG with active EMG/DiMarzio humbuckers

Aggressive, razor-sharp British high-gain thrash rhythm with biting upper mids and tight low-end tracking

Amp settings — Freeman Sm15

CHANNELCleanBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	6
Mid	7
Treble	8
Master	5

Don’t have a Freeman Sm15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01ProCo Rat 2 Distortion

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Distortion 7 · Filter 6 · Volume 7

Why these settings

The Freeman SM15 practice amp's built-in solid-state overdrive cannot reach the razor-sharp high-gain saturation and tight low-end of Tipton and Downing's boosted JCM800s without fizzing out. Keep the amplifier on its Clean channel with low gain (2) and run a dedicated distortion pedal like a ProCo Rat 2 or Boss DS-1 in front. Cut excessive bass on the amp to keep your Cort X100 humbuckers tight during rapid 16th-note palm mutes.

PRO TIPUse extreme picking precision right against the bridge saddles with a stiff (1.0mm+) pick to replicate the percussive, mechanical bite of the intro riff.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Freeman Sm15. 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.