Symphony of destruction amp settings — Orange Crush 20
The Megadeth guitar tone for “Symphony of destruction”, dialed in for a Orange Crush 20 with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Countdown to Extinction (1992)
Marshall JCM800 2203 with Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer boost, Jackson King V/Soloist with Seymour Duncan passive humbuckers
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 8 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 7 |
01Tube Screamer (TS9) or clone
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. A TS-style pedal is critical to this tone; it tightens the low end and adds mid-push. Budget options: Behringer TO800, Joyo Vintage Overdrive, Boss SD-1. Without this pedal, the Crush 20 alone will be looser and fuzzier than the original.
The Orange Crush 20 is naturally warm and mid-thick compared to the JCM800's tighter, more aggressive voicing. I cut bass from the original's 5-6 down to 4 to prevent mud, and pushed mids to 6 to compensate for the Crush's softer upper-mid bite. Without the TS-9, the Crush's gain alone will sound woolly on palm mutes — the pedal is doing the heavy lifting for tightness on the original recording.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Orange Crush 20. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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