Song
Nightmare
Avenged Sevenfold · Nightmare · 2010
Preview and cover from Apple Music
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
- Guitar
- Schecter Synyster Gates Custom
- Tuning
- Drop D
On the record, Synyster Gates played a Schecter Synyster Gates Custom through a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier; Zacky Vengeance played through a Bogner High-Gain Tube Amplifier Head. It's in Drop D.
The original rig
- Nightmare was recorded by Avenged Sevenfold and released on their 2010 album Nightmare.
- Synyster Gates played lead and rhythm guitar parts on the track.
- Zacky Vengeance played rhythm guitar parts on the track.1
Synyster Gates · Rhythm and solo
Schecter Synyster Gates Custom
EstimatedSettings Estimated
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 10
- Pickup Selector
- Bridge
Equipped with Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers, using the bridge position.
MXR MC401 Boost/Line Driver
EstimatedSettings Estimated
- Boost
- +4 dB
Used in front of the amplifier to push the front end and tighten picking response.
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
EstimatedSettings Estimated
- Gain
- 1:00
- Bass
- 11:00
- Mid
- 11:00
- Treble
- 1:30
- Presence
- 12:00
- Master
- 10:00
- Channel
- Channel 3 Modern
High-gain tube head used for primary tracking; Bogner high-gain heads were also used during the sessions.
4x12 Cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers
EstimatedClosed-back 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.
Visual Sound H2O
EstimatedSettings Estimated
- Delay Time
- 380 ms
- Repeats
- 3
- Delay Level
- 9:00
Delay effect engaged selectively for lead lines and twin-guitar harmony sections.
Studio Doubling
EstimatedSettings Estimated
- Pan
- Hard Left / Hard Right
Rhythm tracks were double-tracked and hard-panned left and right in the mix.
Zacky Vengeance · Rhythm
Settings Commonly cited
- Gain
- 1:00
- Bass
- 12:00
- Middle
- 11:30
- Treble
- 1:00
- Presence
- 12:00
Used to complement Gates's amplifier tones and blend rhythm layers.
4x12 Cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers
Estimated4x12 speaker cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.
Studio Doubling
EstimatedSettings Estimated
- Pan
- Hard Left / Hard Right
Heavy multi-tracking hard-panned left and right to build rhythm width.
- 1.equipboard.com · equipboard.com · magazine
Have the real gear, or another modeller? Start from these. Studio knob positions are rarely written down; these are a starting point.
Researched Oct 2026 · 1 source · How ToneSheet researches a song
Tuning
The record is in Drop D, low to high: D A D G B E. Tune your guitar the same way, or tell ToneSheet how it's tuned and your device shifts the tone to match.
Questions about the Nightmare guitar tone
What amp did the guitarists use on Nightmare?
Synyster Gates: a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (an estimate), with Channel Channel 3 Modern, Gain 1:00, Bass 11:00, Mid 11:00, Treble 1:30, Presence 12:00 (settings estimated). Zacky Vengeance: a Bogner High-Gain Tube Amplifier Head (commonly cited), with Gain 1:00, Bass 12:00, Middle 11:30, Treble 1:00, Presence 12:00 (settings commonly cited).
What guitar did the guitarists play on Nightmare?
Synyster Gates: a Schecter Synyster Gates Custom (an estimate), with Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 10 (settings estimated).
What effects did the guitarists use on Nightmare?
A MXR MC401 Boost/Line Driver (an estimate) and a Visual Sound H2O (an estimate).
What tuning is Nightmare in?
Drop D: low to high, D A D G B E.
How do I get the Nightmare guitar tone on an amp modeller?
Start from your modeller's model of the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, set like the original (Gain 1:00, Bass 11:00, Mid 11:00, Treble 1:30), with a guitar like a Schecter Synyster Gates Custom, tuned to Drop D. Ready presets, with every block's settings: HOTONE Pulze Mini (1).
Presets for Nightmare
Tones players shared for their amp modellers, each with every setting, block by block.
HOTONE Pulze Mini1 version
All Pulze Mini presetsMake it for your guitar
Name your guitar and how it's tuned, and ToneSheet makes the tone for it: the pickup and knob settings, and every block on your device.
Different guitar or tuning? Make your own version (1–2 minutes)Updated