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Heavy Metal / Hard Rock2005City of Evil

Bat Country Amp Settings

by Avenged Sevenfold (Synyster Gates / Zacky Vengeance)

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Original Recording Settings

Well-SourcedResearched tone data for "Bat Country" by Avenged Sevenfold (Synyster Gates / Zacky Vengeance)

Original Gear

Guitar
Synyster Gates: Schecter C-1 FR (Gloss Pearl White) — first Schecter delivered after signing in 2004. Gibson ES-335 Dot for clean passages. Zacky Vengeance: Schecter guitars.
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader (bridge) — ceramic humbucker with three bar magnets and oversized polepieces. Confirmed by Gates (Guitar World 2009): 'I use custom-designed Schecter guitars with Seymour Duncan Invader pickups.' (Bridge (Invader) for heavy/lead tones; neck for cleaner sections)
Amplifier
Bogner Uberschall 120W tube head (primary) — early revision made by Reinhold Bogner himself. Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (secondary). Possibly JCM800 blended in studio.
Channel
High-gain channel
Tuning
Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E)
Pickup Selector
Bridge position for all heavy rhythm and lead sections. Neck or middle for clean intro/interlude (especially when using Gibson ES-335).
Strings
Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom .010-.052

Fred Archambault (engineer, Synner.com 2021): 'Here's the Bogner Uberschall they used back in the day. This amp is a large part of their sound, blended in on each album.' Zacky (Guitar World 2009): 'I'm a big fan of both Bogner Uberschall and Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifiers.' SM57 mic placed dead center on speaker cone — unconventional but contributed to the sharp, cutting tone. Bogner Uberkab 4x12 with Celestion V30 and G12T75 in X-pattern.

Amp Settings

Gain
6.5
Bass
3.5
Mid
7.5
Treble
6.5
Presence
5.5
Volume
5.0
NO exact knob positions documented in any primary source. Marshall Forum user: 'Syn was using Bogner Uberschalls with lots of mids and nearly no bass.' Seymour Duncan blog: 'Settings typically emphasize boosted mids around 800Hz.' Synner.com: rhythm tone 'doesn't have the tightness of modern metal boosted amps' — amp gain itself makes the tone (no external boost on rhythm). All numeric values are community-informed estimates.

Effects Chain

→
Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer
Compressor / Boost
→
Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter
Phase Shifter
→
1.Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer — Gates' self-described 'secret weapon' (Guitar World 2009). Confirmed from Fred Archambault's studio vault (actual pedal photographed). Used mostly on leads/solos as compressor and boost for extra saturated lead tone.
2.Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter — Phase shifter audible on the intro of 'Bat Country.' Era-appropriate but not confirmed per-song.

Playing Technique

Fast alternate picking with heavy attack (Dunlop Gator Grip 2.0mm picks during CoE era). Signature sweep picking arpeggiated runs throughout solo. Legato hammer-on/pull-off passages. Harmonized leads: Gates and Vengeance play dual harmony in major and minor thirds/sixths. Whammy bar dives and squeals. Tight palm muting on verse rhythms. Jazz-influenced phrasing from Musicians Institute training.

Sources+
  1. Guitar World — 'Dear Guitar Hero: Avenged Sevenfold' (March 2009) — Gates confirms Bogner, Invaders, Boss CS-3
  2. Synner.com — 'Gear from Fred Archambault's Vault' (June 2021) — photos of actual recording gear
  3. Synner.com — 'The REAL Key to A7X Tone' (April 2023) — SM57 placement, Uberschall details
  4. Premier Guitar — 'Rig Rundown: Avenged Sevenfold' (2013) — detailed tech walkthrough
  5. Seymour Duncan Blog — 'The Sound of Synyster Gates' — Invader confirmation, tone approach
  6. Equipboard.com — Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance gear profiles
  7. Fractal Audio Forum — CoE tone research: JCM800+Uberschall blend, C-1 with Invaders
  8. VVN News — Synyster Gates comprehensive gear guide

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