Song Rig

The Number of the Beast

Dave Murray · The Number of the Beast · 1982

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

The title track that made Iron Maiden global — Dave Murray's Stratocaster into the Marshall stack produces the quintessential New Wave of British Heavy Metal tone: bright, aggressive, and rhythmically precise. The Strat's single-coil pickups give the high-gain Marshall a sharper, more cutting character than a humbucker would.

Signal Chain

1Fender Stratocaster (1970s model, DiMarzio pickup in bridge)
2Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W)
3Marshall 4×12

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume8

Bass6

Mid7

Treble8

Presence8

High treble and presence — the Stratocaster's single-coil bridge pickup into the JCM800 creates a bright, aggressive distortion that cuts through the full band arrangement. Murray keeps treble high to maintain note definition in the galloping riff.

Technique

How to Play It

NWOBHM gallop rhythm — the main riff uses a triplet-feel galloping pattern (long-short-short) that Maiden developed into their signature rhythmic identity. The downstroke consistency and palm muting precision are the technical foundation.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Stratocaster with hot bridge pickup (DiMarzio Super Distortion or HS-3) → Marshall JCM800 → high treble, high presence → practice the gallop rhythm at slow tempos before approaching full speed.

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