Tom Morello

• Kill switch: wire a normally-open momentary switch to kill the guitar signal — creates machine-gun stutter
• Toggle switch between pickups creates a tremolo effect when flipped rhythmically
• DigiTech Whammy: set to 2 octaves up for the screaming "Killing In The Name" effect
• DOD EQ as a boost: cut bass and treble, boost 1–2kHz by 6dB before solos
• Phase 90 slow rate adds subtle movement to rhythm parts without being obvious
• Whammy bar as a tremolo arm: slow vibrato throughout melodic sections
• Guitar volume knob as swell effect: attack silent, release the string, turn up the volume
• Hard, consistent downpicking for rhythm parts — the aggression is in the attack
• Study "Killing In The Name" and "Bombtrack" for the full range of the approach

Tom Morello redefined what a guitar could sound like by treating it as a noise machine. Kill switches, toggle switches, DigiTech Whammy and a whammy bar created DJ scratches, helicopter sounds and industrial noise — all from a standard guitar and Marshall. His Rage Against the Machine tone is political, visceral and unlike anything before it.