Davidian amp settings — Victory Amps MkX

The Machine Head guitar tone for “Davidian”, dialed in for a Victory Amps MkX with a PRS Custom 24. Main rhythm riff, Burn My Eyes (1994) studio version

Original rig

Peavey 5150 'Block Letter' (Bubba) on Lead channel, Jackson Custom with active EMG 81 pickup, direct into amp with Rocktron Hush noise gate

Aggressive, mid-scooped high-gain thrash crunch with tight low-end tracking and razor-sharp pick attack

Amp settings — Victory Amps MkX

CHANNELGain 2 (High Gain)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Mid	4
Treble	7
Presence	7
Reverb	0
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

Used as a clean boost to tighten bass flub and sharpen the pick transient into the amp

Drive 0 · Tone 7 · Level 9

02Boss GE-7 Equalizer

FX loop — precision V-curve to carve out boxy 400-800Hz mids and boost upper-mid bite to match the 5150 voicing

100Hz 6 · 200Hz 4 · 400Hz 3 · 800Hz 4 · 1.6kHz 7 · 3.2kHz 6 · 6.4kHz 5 · Level 5

Why these settings

The PRS Custom 24 passive humbuckers lack the built-in compression and tight low-cut of active EMG 81s, so the TS9 is configured as a front-end clean boost with Drive at zero to tighten the low-end. The Victory Kraken/Mk series is mid-focused, requiring the GE-7 in the loop to sculpt out 400-800Hz to accurately replicate the signature 5150 rhythm scoop. Reverb is kept at 0 to maintain absolute dryness and maximum palm-mute definition.

PRO TIPTune to Drop D tuned down an additional 40 cents (Machine Head's custom studio tuning for 'Burn My Eyes') and dig in hard near the bridge with an extra-heavy pick for authentic percussive string rattle.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Victory Amps MkX. 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.