Davidian guitar tone
Machine Head · Robb Flynn (with Logan Mader)
Burn My Eyes (1994)
scooped groove/thrash high-gain rhythm (drop/B-standard)
The rig Machine Head used
Researched from interviews, production write-ups and gear histories — not guessed.
Guitar
ESP (Explorer-style) with EMG 81
Amplifier
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (original 2-channel)
Cabinet
Mesa 4x12 Rectifier (Celestion V30)
Microphone
Shure SM57
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.
Get this tone on your rig
Pick your amp or modeller and we’ll build Davidian for it — with a preset file you can load, not a list of knob positions.
Why we think this is right
Robb Flynn has stated the Burn My Eyes guitar tone was 'a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, that original two-channel,' which anchors the amp with high confidence. Flynn and Mader played ESP guitars (EX/MX and Horizon) loaded with EMG 81s, into a Mesa Recto 4x12 (V30), SM57-mic'd, produced by Colin Richardson at Fantasy Studios. Davidian is tuned to B standard with a scooped, tight, no-boost high-gain sound.
Sources
- Robb Flynn interview (Guitar World) on the 2-channel Dual Rectifier
- Machine Head Burn My Eyes gear profiles (equipboard)
- Metal Hammer / Louder: story of Burn My Eyes