Tone library / System Of A Down / Aerials

Aerials amp settings — Marshall Mg15r

The System Of A Down guitar tone for “Aerials”, dialed in for a Marshall Mg15r with a Jackson JS22 Dinky. Studio version, Toxicity album (2001)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier + Marshall JCM800 blend, Gibson SG with stock humbuckers, no pedals

Mid-forward high-gain with clarity and bite, not scooped — aggressive but articulate

Amp settings — Marshall Mg15r

CHANNELOD (Overdrive channel)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	4
Treble	6
Reverb	0
Master	3

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss MT-2 Metal Zone or similar high-gain distortion

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The MG15R's OD channel cannot reach Rectifier-level saturation; a high-gain pedal into the clean channel is the only path to this tone. A Boss DS-1 or TC Electronic Dark Matter are budget alternatives.

Level 6 · Low 4 · High 6 · Mid Freq 6 · Mid 7 · Dist 7

Why these settings

The MG15R lacks a mid control and presence knob — its OD channel is voiced scooped and fizzy, the opposite of Daron's mid-forward Rectifier tone. Running a high-gain pedal into the Clean channel with treble at 6 and bass at 4 will get you closer than maxing the OD channel ever could. Your Jackson's passive humbuckers are a good match for output level.

PRO TIPDrop C tuning is non-negotiable — the riff's low C bass notes define the song. Palm-mute tightly on the chugs but release cleanly on the melodic phrases; Daron's attack is precise, not loose.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall Mg15r. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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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.