Tone library / System Of A Down / Sad Statue

Sad Statue amp settings — Blackstar DEBUT50RBLK

The System Of A Down guitar tone for “Sad Statue”, dialed in for a Blackstar DEBUT50RBLK with a Gibson Les Paul Special. Studio version, Mezmerize (2005)

Original rig

1962 Gibson SG with PAF-style humbuckers → Friedman-modded Marshall JMP100 (gain around 7-8, mid-forward EQ). No distortion pedal confirmed for core riff tone—amp gain is the source.

Tight, aggressive mid-heavy crunch with clear note articulation despite heavy palm muting. Not scooped—mids are present for riff definition.

Amp settings — Blackstar DEBUT50RBLK

CHANNELOverdriveBRIGHToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss GE-7 Graphic Equalizer

In front of amp. Use to push mids at 800Hz and cut sub-bass rumble—this compensates for the Blackstar's broader low-end vs the tight JMP100.

100Hz 4 · 200Hz 5 · 400Hz 6 · 800Hz 7 · 1.6kHz 6 · 3.2kHz 5 · 6.4kHz 4 · Level 6

Why these settings

The Blackstar Debut 50R's Overdrive channel is looser and darker than a Friedman-modded JMP. Set ISF fully clockwise (British voicing) to get closer to Marshall midrange bark. Mids pushed to 7 and bass cut to 4 compensate for the Debut's wider low-end. The GE-7 tightens the attack and adds the 800Hz presence Malakian's tone relies on for riff clarity.

PRO TIPMalakian's pick attack is critical—he digs in hard with downstrokes on the palm-muted sections but backs off slightly on the open chord stabs. Your Les Paul Special's P90s or humbuckers will be hotter than his '62 SG PAFs, so if the tone gets muddy, roll your guitar volume to 8 to clean up the input signal.

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