2001Toxicity

Chop Suey! Amp Settings

by System of a Down

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Original Recording Settings

Well-SourcedResearched tone data for "Chop Suey!" by System of a Down

Original Gear

Guitar: Ibanez Iceman IC300 and 1962 Gibson SG
Pickups: Stock humbuckers in Ibanez Iceman IC300 and 1962 Gibson SG (bridge for main riff)
Amplifier: Marshall 1959 Plexi/JMP100 and Mesa/Boogie Dual/Triple Rectifiers (layered)
Channel: High-gain Plexi channel (modded) plus Rectifier high-gain channels
Tuning: Drop C (C–G–C–F–A–D)
Pickup Selector: bridge
Strings: approx .048–.050 sets (Ernie Ball Heavy Bottom/Light Top mentioned by Malakian)[web:52]

Gearnews article describes a Marshall 1959 Plexi Super Lead with 4×12 cabs as Malakian’s main distortion source, with Dual and Triple Rectifiers layered by producer Rick Rubin; Guitarchalk uses a JCM800 as a practical stand‑in.[web:46][web:49]

Amp Settings

Gain

8.0

Bass

6.0

Mid

5.0

Treble

7.0

Presence

6.0

Master Volume

6.0

Values (Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 6, Master 5–7) come from Guitarchalk’s JCM800 settings for Chop Suey! and are approximations of the layered Plexi/Rectifier studio rig.[web:46][web:49]

Effects Chain

→

Clean boost / light overdrive

boost

→

MXR Phase 90

modulation

→

Boss DD‑6

delay

→

1.Clean boost / light overdrive — Guitarchalk suggests a clean boost (Level 8, Gain 2, Tone 6) in front of the amp to tighten the tone; actual studio chain is mostly amp distortion.[web:46]

2.MXR Phase 90 — Used subtly for some clean/spacey parts in the track, per Gearnews overview.[web:49]

3.Boss DD‑6 — Used for clean textures; not prominent on the main riff.[web:49]

Playing Technique

Tight, percussive downpicked riffing with heavy palm muting and dynamic contrasts between clean arpeggios and full‑bore choruses.

Sources+

Amp Settings for Chop Suey! — https://www.guitarchalk.com/chop-suey-amp-settings/ — Provides JCM800-based amp settings and pedal suggestions.[web:46]
The Guitar Sound of Chop Suey! — https://www.gearnews.com/the-guitar-sound-of-chop-suey-guitar/ — Describes Ibanez Iceman IC300, Gibson SG, Marshall Plexi, Dual/Triple Rectifiers, Boss DD‑6, MXR Phase 90, and Drop C tuning.[web:49]
Daron Malakian – Gear and Equipment — https://equipboard.com/pros/daron-malakian — Summarizes use of 1962 Gibson SG, JMP100 with modded channel, string gauges, and Rectifier heads.[web:52]