Bleed It Out guitar tone

The rig LINKIN PARK used

Researched from interviews, production write-ups and gear histories — not guessed.

Signal chain

The order the original sound was built in. The exact settings get dialled for your own amp or modeller when you generate the tone.

1. Fender-family solidbody guitar

   1

   recording-era guitar reference

   guitar
2. Soldano SLO-100-family crunch recreation

   2

   tight mid-forward overdrive

   amp
3. Marshall 1960BV-style 4x12 V30/57 recreation

   3

   focused cabinet and microphone voice

   cab

Why we think this is right

Brad Delson identifies Fender as the characteristic Minutes to Midnight-era studio direction. Period reporting documents a broad album amplifier palette that included Soldano, Hiwatt and JCM800 heads, while a 2007 Guitar World recreation for this song used a Solo 100 model. The playable chain therefore uses a moderate-gain SLO-family voice with a compact 4x12 response, clearly presented as a recreation starting point. The verse and chorus share one chain; palm muting and chord sustain create the audible contrast.

Sources

• Direct artist interview — Brad Delson on Fender as the Minutes to Midnight-era sound: https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/brad-delson-linkin-park-from-zero
• Period interview summary — album guitar and amplifier pool: https://guitarfxdepot.com/rigs/brad-delson-linkin-park-guitar-rig/
• Contemporary recreation preset — Guitar World Holiday 2007 POD patch: https://www.benvesco.com/blog/tones/2007/pod-patches-guitar-world-holiday-2007/
• Band track commentary — arrangement and riff role: https://linkinpedia.com/wiki/Papercuts_-_Singles_Collection_2000-2023
• Release credits — Rick Rubin and Mike Shinoda: https://musicbrainz.org/release/630ea5d2-7139-4d30-81b4-f6a8fb59a73a

More example tones

• OneMetallica
• BatteryMetallica
• Sad But TrueMetallica
• Summer of '69Bryan Adams
• Sweet Child O' MineGuns N' Roses
• You Shook Me All Night LongAC/DC