Holy wars amp settings — Fender Champion 20

The Megadeth guitar tone for “Holy wars”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 20 with a Squier Bullet Stratocaster. Studio version, Rust in Peace (1990) — Dave Mustaine rhythm tone

Original rig

Jackson King V with Seymour Duncan JB humbucker, modified Marshall JCM800 2203 with extra gain stages, Boss NS-2 noise gate, rack delay/reverb applied at mix

Tight, precise thrash rhythm with razor-sharp articulation, cutting highs, moderate gain, and dry attack

Amp settings — Fender Champion 20

CHANNELClean (Voice switch off/down)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	5
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Distortion pedal (RECOMMENDED — Boss DS-1 or similar)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This is your primary gain source; the Champion 20 cannot produce thrash saturation from its amp section alone. A DS-1 or MT-2 gets you closest to the tight, articulate JCM800 mod tone.

Tone 7 · Level 7 · Dist 6

02Noise gate (RECOMMENDED — Boss NS-2 or Donner Noise Killer)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for the dead-silent stops between rapid picking passages that define this tone. Place after distortion, before amp input.

Threshold 7 · Decay 3

Why these settings

The Champion 20 is a solid-state practice amp with no mid control and limited gain headroom — it cannot replicate a modded JCM800's saturation without an external distortion pedal. Amp set to clean with gain at 3 to provide a tight platform; the DS-1 supplies all the dirt. Treble pushed to 7 compensates for the Squier's darker single-coil bridge pickup vs Mustaine's hot JB humbucker. Reverb at 0 — the original is bone-dry for maximum articulation.

PRO TIPMustaine's tone comes from picking precision, not gain — practice strict alternate picking with your palm muting right at the bridge saddles. The tightness you hear is 80% technique and 20% gear. Angle your pick slightly for more attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Champion 20. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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