Nightmare by Avenged Sevenfold — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone

Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.

To capture the aggressive high-gain tone of 'Nightmare' by Avenged Sevenfold, we'll use the Fender Mustang LT25's modeling capabilities to approximate a Mesa/Boogie high-gain sound. The Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s will stand in for a superstrat, with its single-coil pickups delivering a bright and articulate tone. We'll focus on achieving a tight low end and cutting highs, with minimal reverb to maintain a dry, focused sound.

Signal chain settings

Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — Main guitar

Control	Setting	Why
Pickup Selector	Bridge Pickup	Select the bridge pickup for a bright, cutting tone that matches the aggressive attack of the recording.
Master Volume	10	Guitar volume full up — roll back to clean up the gain or drop level.
Tone 1	Leave at default	Tone control for neck and middle pickups not used in this setup.
Tone 2	10	Tone wide open — roll it down to soften the high end.

Fender Mustang LT25 — Main amplifier

Control	Setting	Why
Preset	[14] THRASH OVERKILL	This preset provides a high-gain foundation similar to the Mesa/Boogie sound heard on the record.
Gain	7	Set to 7 to achieve the saturated tube crunch with tight, percussive attack.
Volume	4	Set to 4 to balance the output level without overpowering the mix, based on player evidence.
Treble	6	Set to 6 for a bright, cutting tone that ensures clarity in dense mixes, based on player evidence.
Bass	5	Keep at 5 to maintain a tight low end without overwhelming the mids.
Master	6	Output level — set to the volume you're playing at; this sets loudness, not tone.
Cabinet build	Not used	Not needed for this tone — leave it off.
Amp Models	Not used	Not needed for this tone — leave it off.
Effects	Not used	Not needed for this tone — leave it off.

Section guide — how the tone changes through the song

Intro

The intro features a clean, bright, and sustained tone. Use the neck pickup for a warmer sound and reduce gain to clean up the tone.

the pedal: Pickup Selector → Neck Pickup

What Avenged Sevenfold actually used

Avenged Sevenfold's 'Nightmare' features the band's signature heavy metal sound, achieved through the use of high-gain amplifiers and custom guitars equipped with Seymour Duncan pickups. The recording process included layering multiple guitar tracks to create a dense and powerful sonic landscape. Vocals were processed using high-quality studio equipment to ensure clarity and impact.

Schecter Synyster Gates Custom — lead guitar. Equipped with Seymour Duncan Invader pickups
Schecter Zacky Vengeance Custom — rhythm guitar. Equipped with Seymour Duncan JB pickups
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier — main amplifier. Used for high-gain tones
Bogner Uberschall — secondary amplifier. Used for additional tonal variety
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah — lead effects. Used for expressive lead parts
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay — delay effects. Used for ambient textures
Empirical Labs EL8-X Distressor — vocal compression. Applied to M. Shadows' vocals

Tuning: Standard

Sources