Tone library / Megadeth / Holy Wars... The Punishment Due

Holy Wars... The Punishment Due amp settings — Yamaha THR30II

The Megadeth guitar tone for “Holy Wars... The Punishment Due”, dialed in for a Yamaha THR30II with a Stratocaster Superstrato. Studio version, Rust in Peace (1990) - Iconic opening thrash rhythm

Original rig

Jackson King V with Seymour Duncan JB / Bill Lawrence L500 / EMG pickups, modified Marshall Super Lead / JCM800 2203, Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor

Tight, aggressive, articulate thrash — razor-sharp upper-mid bite, tight low end for fast alternate picking, dry and immediate

Amp settings — Yamaha THR30II

CHANNELLEAD amp model (Classic mode)BOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The THR30II 'Lead' amp model simulates a modified British high-gain stack with the exact mid-forward bite needed for Mustaine's rhythm tone. Bass is kept at 5 to prevent the small desktop speakers from flubbing out on rapid palm-mutes, while mids and treble are pushed to 7 to replicate the aggressive upper-register cut of the original JCM800. Presence is set to null as the physical top panel of the THR30II features a 3-band EQ without a dedicated presence knob.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm firmly against the bridge saddles and pick with a stiff, pointed pick (1.0mm+) at a sharp angle to get the distinct metallic attack and percussive scrape essential to 1990-era Megadeth riffs.

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