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 · 7 blocksLive values · Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitar
Ibanez Iceman (IC300)
Pickups
HH
Tuning
neck
Strings
drop C
Noise Gate
Studio Comp
Recto
4x12 V30
Room
Graphic EQ
Noise Gate
← FRFR gate (tightness)
Threshold
-52dB
Decay
0.2s
Level
0
Studio Comp
← UREI 1176 (paired, tracking)
Threshold
-32dB
Ratio
3:1
Attack
6s
Release
200s
Mix
50
Level
0dB
Recto
← Mesa/Boogie Rectifier (+ Marshall body)
Gain
7
Bass
5
Mid
5
Treble
6
Presence
6
Master
5
Sag
4.5
4x12 V30
← Mesa + Marshall 4x12s
LowCut90Hz
HighCut9500Hz
Level
0dB
Room
← Studio ambience (dry mix)
Decay
0.5s
Predelay
10ms
Mix
12
Level
0
Graphic EQ
← Tilt EQ (global brightness)
Tilt
5
CenterFreq
1000Hz
Level
0
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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