Unholy Confessions 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 achieve the aggressive metalcore tone of 'Unholy Confessions', we'll use the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s and the Fender Mustang LT25. The Mustang's modeling capabilities will help us approximate the Mesa/Boogie high-gain sound Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance used. We'll focus on a high-gain, mid-forward tone with tight, aggressive distortion.

Signal chain settings

Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — guitar

ControlSettingWhy
Pickup SelectorBridge PickupSelect the bridge pickup for a sharper attack and more aggressive tone.
Master Volume8Set to 8 to maintain clarity while driving the amp hard.
Tone 1Leave at defaultNot used for the bridge pickup.
Tone 26Roll back to 6 to tame the brightness of the single-coil bridge pickup.

Fender Mustang LT25 — amp

ControlSettingWhy
Preset[11] METAL LEADThis preset provides a high-gain foundation similar to the Mesa/Boogie sound on the record.
Gain8Set to 8 to achieve the saturated tube crunch and tight distortion needed for the song.
Volume5Balanced to maintain clarity without overpowering the mix.
Treble7Boosted to enhance the cutting brightness of the tone.
Bass4Slightly scooped to keep the low end tight and focused.
Master6Output level — set to the volume you're playing at; this sets loudness, not tone.
Cabinet buildNot usedNot needed for this tone — leave it off.
Amp ModelsNot usedNot needed for this tone — leave it off.
EffectsNot usedNot needed for this tone — leave it off.

Section guide — how the tone changes through the song

Verse

The verse tone is cleaner compared to the intro, requiring a reduction in gain for clarity.

  • the pedal: Gain → 6

What Avenged Sevenfold actually used

During the recording of 'Unholy Confessions,' Synyster Gates utilized a Gibson Les Paul Custom and a Parker Fly Deluxe for lead guitar parts, while Zacky Vengeance played a Schecter S-1 for rhythm sections. Specific details about amplifiers, effects pedals, and studio effects used during the recording are not well-documented.

  • Gibson Les Paul Custom — lead guitar
  • Parker Fly Deluxe — lead guitar
  • Schecter S-1 — rhythm guitar

Sources