Song
Chop Suey!
System of a Down · Toxicity · 2001
Preview and cover from Apple Music
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
- Guitar
- Ibanez Iceman
- Tuning
- Drop C
On the record, Daron Malakian played an Ibanez Iceman through a Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier and a Marshall Plexi. It's in Drop C.
The original rig
Daron Malakian achieved the massive, cutting tone on Chop Suey! by running an Ibanez Iceman or Gibson guitar straight into high-gain Mesa/Boogie and Marshall tube amplifiers without distortion pedals. The aggressive wall of sound relies on bridge humbuckers, saturated tube gain, and tightly layered multi-tracked performances.
Daron Malakian · Rhythm and solo
Settings Commonly cited
- Pickup Position
- Bridge
- Pickup Type
- Stock Passive Humbucker
Tuned to Drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D); Gibson Les Paul Standard was also utilized during tracking.
Settings Estimated
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 6
- Middle
- 5
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Channel
- Red / Modern
Main high-gain rhythm voice, delivering tight, scooped low-end and searing top-end bite.
Settings Estimated
- Volume I
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Middle
- 7
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
Cranked vintage Marshall head used in tandem to add mid-range punch and articulation.
Settings Commonly cited
- Speakers
- Celestion Vintage 30
Loaded with Celestion speakers to capture high-gain crunch without cone breakup flubbiness.
Settings Commonly cited
- Type
- Double/Quad-tracked takes hard-panned
Massive rhythm presence was created through tight multiple physical takes rather than artificial stereo doubling.
- 1.ultimate-guitar.com · ultimate-guitar.com · compilation
- 2.equipboard.com · equipboard.com · magazine
- 3.guitarchalk.com · guitarchalk.com · source
- 4.reddit.com · reddit.com · forum
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 · 4 sources · How ToneSheet researches a song
Tuning
The record is in Drop C, low to high: C G C F A D. Tune your guitar the same way, or tell ToneSheet how it's tuned and your device shifts the tone to match.
Questions about the Chop Suey! guitar tone
What amp did Daron Malakian use on Chop Suey!?
Daron Malakian played through a Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier (an estimate), with Channel Red / Modern, Gain 7.5, Bass 6, Middle 5, Treble 7, Presence 6 (settings estimated); and a Marshall Plexi (an estimate), with Volume I 8, Bass 5, Middle 7, Treble 7, Presence 6 (settings estimated).
What guitar did Daron Malakian play on Chop Suey!?
Daron Malakian played an Ibanez Iceman (commonly cited), with Pickup Position Bridge, Pickup Type Stock Passive Humbucker (settings commonly cited).
What tuning is Chop Suey! in?
Drop C: low to high, C G C F A D.
How do I get the Chop Suey! guitar tone on an amp modeller?
Start from your modeller's model of the Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier, set like the original (Gain 7.5, Bass 6, Middle 5, Treble 7), with a guitar like a Ibanez Iceman, tuned to Drop C. Ready presets, with every block's settings: HOTONE Pulze Mini (1).
Presets for Chop Suey!
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