Tone library / Pantera / Cowboys from hell

Cowboys from hell amp settings — Fender Mustang lt50

The Pantera guitar tone for “Cowboys from hell”, dialed in for a Fender Mustang lt50 with a ESP LTD KH-202 Kirk Hammett. Studio version, Cowboys from Hell (1990)

Original rig

Randall RG-100ES solid-state head, Dean ML with Bill Lawrence L-500XL pickup, MXR 6-Band EQ (key to tone), Furman PQ-4 Parametric EQ, Boss Noise Gate

Tight scooped mids, razor-sharp attack, crushing palm-muted low end, aggressive high-gain saturation with articulate note separation

Amp settings — Fender Mustang lt50

CHANNELMetal 2000 amp model

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Mid	3
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	6

Don’t have a Fender Mustang lt50? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss GE-7 Equalizer

Run in front of amp input - this pedal is CRITICAL to the Dimebag tone. The mid-scoop at 400-800Hz and boost at lows/highs defines the sound. Dimebag's MXR 6-Band EQ was essential to his rig.

100Hz 7 · 200Hz 6 · 400Hz 3 · 800Hz 2 · 1.6kHz 4 · 3.2kHz 7 · 6.4kHz 6 · Level 6

Why these settings

The Mustang LT50's Metal 2000 model approximates high-gain solid-state voicing closest to Dimebag's Randall. The Randall RG-100ES was famously scooped with tight lows - your GE-7 replicates his MXR 6-Band which was 'detrimental' (his word) to his tone. Mid at 3 on the amp plus the 400-800Hz cut on the EQ creates the signature scoop. Your KH-202's EMG-designed pickups are hotter than Dimebag's passive L-500XL, so gain stays at 8 rather than 9.

PRO TIPDimebag's attack came from extremely precise palm muting positioned closer to the bridge than typical - practice muting right at the saddles for that machine-gun chug articulation, and pick aggressively with a heavy pick angled slightly.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Mustang lt50. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Fender Mustang lt50

Ain't talkin bout loveVan Halen Christie Rd.Green Day 16Green Day Green DayGreen Day

Find your amp

Browse

Fender Mustang lt50 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Cowboys from hell on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Pantera tonesALL SONGS ESP LTD KH-202 Kirk Hammett tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.