Tone library / Megadeth / Symphony of destruction

Symphony of destruction amp settings — Fender Champion 20

The Megadeth guitar tone for “Symphony of destruction”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 20 with a Ibanez RGA42FM. Studio version, Countdown to Extinction (1992)

Original rig

Marshall JCM800 2203, Jackson Soloist (bridge humbucker), Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-9 as boost, tuned to Eb Standard

Tight, aggressive thrash rhythm with sharp high-mid bite and controlled low end — cleaner than Rust in Peace but still saturated

Amp settings — Fender Champion 20

CHANNELOverdrive (Voice switch: position 2 if available)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	10
Bass	4
Mid	7
Treble	5
Presence	0
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Tube Screamer style overdrive (TS9 / TS Mini / Joyo Vintage OD)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for this tone. The TS tightens the low end and pushes the amp into focused thrash territory. Without it, the Champion's gain will sound loose and fizzy. A Boss SD-1 or any TS clone under $40 works.

Drive 2 · Tone 6 · Level 7

Why these settings

The Champion 20 is a solid-state Fender with scooped, bright voicing — the opposite of a Marshall JCM800's mid-forward bark. Compensating: pushed mids to 7 (vs original 5) to recover the cut, dropped treble to 5 (vs original 7) because the Champion is already bright, reduced bass to 4 to avoid flub since there's no tube compression to tighten it. Gain maxed because solid-state amps don't saturate like a JCM800 at 8 — you need every bit of drive available. Reverb at 0; the original is bone dry.

PRO TIPTune to Eb Standard before dialing in — this tone was tracked a half-step down. Palm mute directly over the bridge saddles, not further up the strings, to get that precise 'chunk' without mud. If the tone still feels too fizzy at high gain, roll your guitar's tone knob to 7.

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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