Marty Friedman Amp Settings
EQ dial positions, gain structure, and how to replicate the sound on any amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 / Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier — Dial Settings
SourcedAll values on a 0–10 scale. Adjust by ear — room acoustics and specific amp variants affect the exact position.
Choosing the Right Amp
Amp at Every Budget
Getting the Most From Your Amp
- Use the amp's own drive channel rather than stacking too many pedals —Marty Friedman's tone benefits from amp-driven saturation.
- Don't scoop the mids. Marty Friedman's mid-forward voicing is essential to cut through the mix.
- Use reverb generously — Marty Friedman's tone relies on spatial depth.
- Master volume matters — many classic tones only work at significant volume when tubes are working hard.
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FAQ
Marty Friedman Amp Settings — Common Questions
Marty Friedman uses the Marshall JCM800 2203 / Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier with Gain at 8, Bass at 7, Mid at 5, Treble at 7, and Presence at 7. Marty Friedman's Megadeth-era tone uses a Marshall JCM800 at high gain with a slightly scooped mid voicing — different from the mid-forward approach of most blues-rock. His heavily palm-muted, extremely fast picking style produces articulation from technique rather than EQ; the Mid 5 scoop prevents the amp from compressing the individual notes of rapid passages into an indistinct mass. His Signature Jackson/Dean guitars with Floyd Rose vibrato fed the Marshall at gain 8–9. Post-Megadeth solo work uses Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier for a warmer, more modern high-gain character.
Marty Friedman's primary amp is the Marshall JCM800 2203 / Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier. At different budgets, similar tones can be achieved with: Boss Katana 50 MkII (£200 · Beginner), Boss Katana 50 MkII (£500 · Sweet Spot), Marshall DSL40CR (£1,000 · Pro-Level), Marshall DSL40CR (£2,500 · Premium).
Marty Friedman sets Gain to 8 on the Marshall JCM800 2203 / Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier. Marty Friedman's Megadeth-era tone uses a Marshall JCM800 at high gain with a slightly scooped mid voicing — different from the mid-forward approach of most blues-rock.
You can get close to Marty Friedman's tone on any amp by focusing on the EQ character rather than specific gain levels. Key: keep the mids high (7–8) — mid-forward voicing is critical. Use the amp's drive channel rather than external pedals for the primary distortion. A Boss Katana or Blackstar HT series can approximate the tone at low cost.
For Marty Friedman's EQ signature: Bass 5/10, Mid 7/10, Treble 6/10, Presence 6/10. The tone is characterised as: exotic-scales, vibrato-heavy, sustained-lead. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear to your specific amp and room.