Tone library / System Of A Down / Toxicity

Toxicity amp settings — Line 6 Helix

The System Of A Down guitar tone for “Toxicity”, dialed in for a Line 6 Helix with a Eko Aire stealth matte black. Studio version, Toxicity album (2001)

Original rig

Ibanez Iceman IC300 with stock Axis humbuckers, Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier blended with Marshall Plexi, no pedals for main riff, recorded at Cello Studios by Dave Schiffman, mixed by Andy Wallace

Aggressive drop-C chunk with scooped mids, tight low-end thump, and cutting high-gain bite

Amp settings — Line 6 Helix

CHANNELCali Rectifire (Red channel) — Mesa Rectifier modelBRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Mid	4
Treble	6
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Line 6 Helix? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Helix Cali Rectifire nails the Dual Rectifier's scooped aggression. Mid at 4 matches the original's deliberate scoop — Malakian cut mids for that lurching chug. Your Eko's passive humbuckers have slightly lower output than the Iceman's Axis pickups, so gain stays at 8 rather than backing off. Bass at 7 keeps the drop-C tuning tight without flubbing.

PRO TIPPalm-mute directly over the bridge pickup for maximum chunk definition — Malakian's attack is percussive and staccato, not sustained, so keep your picking hand anchored and dig in hard on the downstrokes.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Line 6 Helix. 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.