Song Rig
Bulls on Parade
Tom Morello · Evil Empire · 1996
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
The most turntable-influenced guitar tone in rock — Morello mimics DJ scratching by manipulating the guitar's toggle switch and whammy bar while moving the pick across the strings. No effects create this sound; it's pure technique.
Signal Chain
- 1Arm the Homeless custom guitar
- 2DigiTech Whammy (two octaves up)
- 3Marshall JCM800
- 4Custom kill switch wiring
Amp Settings
Similar Marshall setup to Killing in the Name but with more gain for the solo section. The Whammy set to two octaves up creates the high, harmonic-rich scratching effect.
Technique
How to Play It
The "scratching" effect: pick down across the strings while rapidly toggling the pickup selector — the oscillating between pickups while plucking creates a wah-like, rhythmic effect that sounds like vinyl scratching.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Any guitar with a toggle switch + DigiTech Whammy (essential — no substitute for the two-octave effect) + heavy distortion. The toggle switching technique must be practised independently.
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