Zakk Wylde — £200 · Beginner Rig

• Boss SD-1 before the amp: gain at 9 o'clock (low), level boosted — push the amp, not add dirt
• Pinch harmonics: pick edge digs into the string, thumb immediately mutes it slightly
• EMG 81 bridge pickup gives the tighter, more compressed attack vs passive pickups
• Marshall gain at 7–8, master at 5–6 — enough for infinite sustain without getting flabby
• Pentatonic scale in 12th position is Zakk's home — learn the "boxes" at higher frets
• Wah pedal parked at heel position adds a dark, mid-scoop to rhythm parts
• Vibrato is wide and fast — practise sustained notes with aggressive finger vibrato
• Palm muting with varying pressure creates the rhythmic pulse in the heavy riff parts

• ✗Not using a gate on the JCM800's high-gain channel — self-noise at this gain level is continuous and audible between notes. A noise gate is not a style choice; it is functional equipment for this gain level
• ✗Ignoring the active pickup battery — a dying 9V battery in an active pickup system produces distortion artifacts before going completely silent. Replace every 3-4 months of regular use, before any recording session
• ✗Ignoring the individual pickup volume and tone controls — the two-pickup switching options on a Les Paul give you four distinct tones within a single setting. Most players only use two.
• ✗Using a high-gain distortion pedal instead of amp gain — British crunch amps have a specific harmonic character when driven from their own gain stage. A pedal changes this character.
• ✗Skipping the Tube Screamer-style boost — this pedal before the amp's high-gain channel is not optional for many players. It tightens the low end, not adds gain. Gain on the pedal at 0.
• ✗Moving the wah too fast — wah is a filter effect that needs time to sweep through its range musically. Fast rocking produces a quacking sound; musical use is slower and more deliberate.
• ✗Setting gain too high on the overdrive pedal — most overdrive pedals are most useful at gain settings of 2-5, where they add character without dominating the tone. High gain settings on an OD pedal become a distortion, not an overdrive.
• ✗Ignoring down-tuning — trying to achieve dropped-tuning riff character at standard pitch produces a thinner, less aggressive result regardless of EQ.

Gibson Les Paul Custom (EMG 81/85 pickups) into a Marshall JCM800 with a Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive boosting the front end (gain low, volume high). The result is very high gain with a tight low end and compressed, harmonically saturated lead tone. Pinch harmonics pop out naturally at these gain levels.