Jackson King V Settings Guide
The V-shaped superstrat that Dave Mustaine and Randy Rhoads made famous — the King V's pointed double-horn body, through-neck construction, and high-output humbuckers define the visual and tonal vocabulary of 1980s metal guitar. Dave Mustaine's signature King V (the "Dave Mustaine VMNT") is one of the most recognisable guitars in thrash metal. Jason Becker used a King V variant during his early career. The King V's through-neck construction provides superior upper-register sustain and resonance compared to bolt-on or set-neck V-shaped alternatives.
Used by: Dave Mustaine
The best Jackson King V settings start with: Volume at 10/10, Tone at 7/10, Pickup at 3/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Thrash / Heavy Metal: Volume 10/10, Tone 7/10, Pickup 3/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 10/10 | Silent → Full |
| Tone | 7/10 | Dark → Bright |
| Pickup | 3/10 | Neck → Bridge |
These are universal starting points. Adjust based on your amp, guitar, and room. Scroll down for genre-specific settings and artist-documented positions.
What Each Control Does
Recommended Starting Settings
Safe starting positions for any style. Adjust from here based on your amp and room.
All values on a 0–10 scale. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear.
Settings by Genre
Bridge humbucker, full Volume — the King V's primary metal voice. High-output passive or active humbuckers in the bridge position deliver the output level required for high-gain amplifiers. The through-neck construction maintains note definition and sustain even at extreme gain levels where bolt-on necks can lose clarity. Tone at 7 adds brightness for single-note definition without harshness.
Bridge humbucker, Tone raised to 8 — the King V for fast technical playing. Higher Tone control opening adds pick-attack definition and note separation for fast alternate picking passages. The King V's pointed lower horn and through-neck design give unobstructed access to all 24 frets; combined with Tone 8, individual notes speak clearly even in the upper register.
Neck humbucker, guitar volume reduced to 8 — the King V's less commonly used clean voice. The neck humbucker on a through-neck King V has a warm, sustained character that works for clean arpeggios and melodic lead work. Reducing guitar volume to 8 rounds the attack slightly for a more vintage character.
Bridge humbucker, Tone at 6 for drop-tuned clarity — the King V in drop D or drop C tuning. The through-neck's increased sustain and resonance helps extended low-tuning notes ring clearly; Tone reduced slightly prevents the drop-tuned low-end from becoming bright or harsh through a high-gain amplifier.
Artist Settings
Documented settings used by professional guitarists on this unit.
Mustaine's signature VMNT uses the King V architecture with active EMG pickups and a Floyd Rose tremolo system. The active EMG 81 bridge pickup provides a high-output, noise-free signal for the extreme Gain settings of his Mesa Dual Rectifier and Marshall head rigs.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- The King V's pointed lower horn creates a balance point issue when playing standing — the guitar neck-dives unless the strap button position is modified or a heavier strap is used. Many King V players add a secondary strap button at the upper horn tip or use a locking strap system to manage the balance.
- Through-neck construction (the neck wood extends through the entire length of the body) produces superior upper-register sustain compared to bolt-on or set-neck designs. This is the King V's primary tonal advantage over other V-shaped guitars — notes ring clearly and sustain fully even at the highest frets.
FAQ
Jackson King V — Common Questions
Best starting settings for Jackson King V: Volume at 10/10, Tone at 7/10, Pickup at 3/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Thrash / Heavy Metal: Volume 10/10, Tone 7/10, Pickup 3/10. Bridge humbucker, full Volume — the King V's primary metal voice. High-output passive or active humbuckers in the bridge position deliver the output level required for high-gain amplifiers. The through-neck construction maintains note definition and sustain even at extreme gain levels where bolt-on necks can lose clarity. Tone at 7 adds brightness for single-note definition without harshness.
For Shred / Technical: Volume 10/10, Tone 8/10, Pickup 3/10. Bridge humbucker, Tone raised to 8 — the King V for fast technical playing. Higher Tone control opening adds pick-attack definition and note separation for fast alternate picking passages. The King V's pointed lower horn and through-neck design give unobstructed access to all 24 frets; combined with Tone 8, individual notes speak clearly even in the upper register.
Volume: Master volume control. (Silent to Full). Tone: Passive tone control. (Dark to Bright). Pickup: 3-way blade: Neck / Both / Bridge. (Neck to Bridge)
The King V's pointed lower horn creates a balance point issue when playing standing — the guitar neck-dives unless the strap button position is modified or a heavier strap is used. Many King V players add a secondary strap button at the upper horn tip or use a locking strap system to manage the balance. Through-neck construction (the neck wood extends through the entire length of the body) produces superior upper-register sustain compared to bolt-on or set-neck designs. This is the King V's primary tonal advantage over other V-shaped guitars — notes ring clearly and sustain fully even at the highest frets.
Dave Mustaine settings: Volume 10/10, Tone 7/10, Pickup 3/10. Mustaine's signature VMNT uses the King V architecture with active EMG pickups and a Floyd Rose tremolo system. The active EMG 81 bridge pickup provides a high-output, noise-free signal for the extreme Gain settings of his Mesa Dual Rectifier and Marshall head rigs.
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