Aerials by System of a Down — 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 tone of 'Aerials' by System of a Down, we'll use the Fender Mustang LT25's modeling capabilities to approximate a high-gain Mesa/Boogie sound, paired with the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s. The goal is to achieve a tight, aggressive tone with clear articulation and a biting edge, suitable for both heavy riffs and melodic passages.

Signal chain settings

Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — Main guitar

Control	Setting	Why
Pickup Selector	Bridge Pickup	Selects the bridge pickup for a biting edge and clarity in heavy riffs.
Master Volume	8	Set high to drive the amp's input for more saturation.
Tone 1	Leave at default	Not used for the bridge pickup.
Tone 2	5	Balances brightness, avoiding harshness from the single-coil pickup.

Fender Mustang LT25 — Main amp

Control	Setting	Why
Preset	11 METAL LEAD	Closest preset to the high-gain Mesa/Boogie sound heard on the record.
Gain	7	Provides the tight, saturated distortion characteristic of the recording.
Volume	6	Balances output level without losing dynamics.
Treble	6	Emphasizes brightness and articulation without harshness.
Bass	4	Scoops the mids slightly to match the recording's EQ character.
Master	5	Controls overall output, maintaining headroom for dynamics.
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

Clean Intro

Switch to a clean tone for the intro to create a spacious atmosphere.

the pedal: Preset → 13 SUPER DRYCLEAN
the pedal: Gain → 3
the pedal: Volume → 5

What System of a Down actually used

System of a Down's 'Aerials' was recorded at Cello Studios in Hollywood, California, with production by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian. The recording features Daron Malakian on guitar and vocals, Serj Tankian on vocals and keyboards, Shavo Odadjian on bass, and John Dolmayan on drums. The song showcases the band's signature alternative metal sound, blending heavy guitar riffs with melodic elements.

Ibanez Iceman IC300 — main. Standard tuning
Marshall JCM800 — main. Settings unknown
Boss DS-1 Distortion — main. Settings unknown

Tuning: Standard

Sources