Sugar (Clean Version) amp settings — RJ amp BE-100
The System Of A Down guitar tone for “Sugar (Clean Version)”, dialed in for a RJ amp BE-100 with a Donner Stratocaster. Studio version, Sugar E.P. / Self-titled album (1997) — clean version with lighter gain than the main single
Ibanez Iceman IC100 (high-output ceramic humbuckers) → Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer → Marshall JCM800 2203 with light spring reverb
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 4 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 7 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Presence | 5 |
| Reverb | 1 |
| Master | 5 |
01Tube Screamer (TS9 or clone)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for this tone; provides the tight mid-push and compression Daron uses. A Behringer TO800, Boss SD-1, or any TS clone will work.
Your Donner Strat has single coils vs the original's high-output humbuckers — I've pushed mids +1 (to 7) and dropped treble -1 (to 5) to compensate for the brighter, thinner output. The BE-100 is a Friedman-style amp with more modern voicing than the JCM800, so gain is dropped from the original's ~6-7 to 4 to avoid excessive saturation. Without a TS9, you'll lose the signature tight compression — consider one as your first pedal.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a RJ amp BE-100. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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