Tone library / Silverstein / Born Dead

Born Dead amp settings — Fender Champion 40

The Silverstein guitar tone for “Born Dead”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 40 with a Yamaha Revstar RSS20. Studio version, A Shipwreck in the Sand (2009)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier & Peavey 5150 heads, Gibson Les Paul / B.C. Rich Mockingbird with Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 bridge pickup, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

Aggressive, high-gain post-hardcore rhythm with tight low-end chug and cutting upper-mid bite
Amp settings — Fender Champion 40
CHANNELMetal voice (Voice knob set to Metal / 5150 or Rectifier emulation)
GAIN 8 BASS 6 TREBLE 7 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain8
Bass6
Treble7
Reverb0
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Overdrive (Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer style)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; place in front of amp to tighten low-end chug

Drive 0 · Tone 6 · Level 8
Why these settings

The Fender Champion 40 has a 2-band EQ (Bass and Treble only, no Middle or Presence controls), so the mid-range push is dialed via the aggressive high-gain Metal voice setting. The Yamaha Revstar RSS20's VH5 humbuckers have strong output, but using the bridge position with the Focus Switch pushed down (disengaged) preserves the high-end snap required for Drop D hardcore riffing. Bass is kept moderate at 6 to prevent the 12-inch open-back combo speaker from flubbing out on heavy palm mutes.

PRO TIPDrop tune to Drop D, hit aggressive downstrokes with a rigid pick (1.0mm+), and keep your palm-muting hand tight against the bridge saddles to get that precise, punchy modern post-hardcore chug.

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These settings are for a Fender Champion 40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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