No. 0942001·alternative-metal·4 blocks
Chop Suey!
System of a Down's signature dynamic shift — a clean, fast drop-C arpeggio intro that detonates into a full-distortion chorus. Same rig as the rest of Toxicity: Daron Malakian's Ibanez Iceman in drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D) through a Mesa/Boogie Rectifier blended with a Marshall Plexi-type — Mesa for the teeth, Marshall for the body — no pedals. The trick is dynamics: roll the guitar volume back and pick lightly for the clean intro, then dig in and let the amp blend bite. Recorded dry at Cello Studios under Rick Rubin, mixed by Andy Wallace.
ToxicitySignal path · input → output · 5 blocksLive values · Pedalboard
Guitar
Ibanez Iceman (IC300)
Pickups
HH
Tuning
neck
Strings
drop C
UREI 1176 (paired, tracking)
Mesa/Boogie Rectifier + Marshall Plexi (blended)
Mesa + Marshall 4x12s (blended)
Shure SM57 + SM87 (per cab)
UREI 1176 (paired, tracking)
compressor
Input
5
Ratio
4:1
Output
5
Mesa/Boogie Rectifier + Marshall Plexi (blended)
preamp
Gain
7
Bass
5
Middle
5
Treble
6
Presence
6
Master
5
Engineer's note
File 094
System of a Down's signature dynamic shift — a clean, fast drop-C arpeggio intro that detonates into a full-distortion chorus. Same rig as the rest of Toxicity: Daron Malakian's Ibanez Iceman in drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D) through a Mesa/Boogie Rectifier blended with a Marshall Plexi-type — Mesa for the teeth, Marshall for the body — no pedals. The trick is dynamics: roll the guitar volume back and pick lightly for the clean intro, then dig in and let the amp blend bite. Recorded dry at Cello Studios under Rick Rubin, mixed by Andy Wallace.
— Daron Malakian
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