Amplitube 5 Avenged Sevenfold May 2026
Master the Avenged Sevenfold Tone in AmpliTube 5 Achieving the razor-sharp, aggressive, yet harmonically rich sound of Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance requires more than just high gain; it demands a surgical approach to signal routing and EQ. AmpliTube 5 provides the "blank canvas" necessary to recreate these complex rigs that were once only possible in high-end studios. 1. The Core Amplifiers
The "A7X sound" is primarily built on high-gain, British-voiced amplifiers that emphasize a tight mid-range rather than a scooped American sound.
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier: Use the Mesa/Boogie Collection for that signature modern metal thickness found on tracks like "Almost Easy".
Marshall JVM Series: Both guitarists have used the JVM410H and JVM205 models. In AmpliTube 5, the British Tube Lead 1 or Brit 8000 (found in the AmpliTube 5 Custom Shop) can serve as excellent starting points for this British bark.
Bogner Uberschall & Peavey 5150: For an even more aggressive, modern attack, the Bogner Uberschall or Peavey 5150/6505 models are highly effective. 2. Signature EQ and Gain Settings
The band often avoids extreme EQ "scooping," opting instead for balanced settings that allow their intricate dual-lead harmonies to cut through the mix.
General Settings: Set Gain around 6–8. Both Synyster and Zacky frequently run their EQs near 6, with Synyster slightly boosting Mids to 7 and Zacky pushing Bass to 7.
Tone Sculpting: Aggressively use a Noise Gate at the start of your chain to handle high-gain hiss and ensure silent, tight stops during complex riffs. amplitube 5 avenged sevenfold
Presence & Resonance: Boost Presence to approximately 6–7 for clarity and Resonance to 6 for low-end "thump". 3. Essential Pedals and Routing
The secret to the clarity of their high-gain sound is boosting the amp's preamp with a low-gain overdrive.
Getting the Avenged Sevenfold AmpliTube 5 requires balancing high-gain saturation with clinical precision. Synyster Gates’ tone is characterized by a "scooped but articulate" midrange and lightning-fast tracking. The "City of Evil" Core Rig To emulate the era where Synyster used Bogner Uberschall Mesa/Boogie heads, use these components in AmpliTube 5: German Gain (Bogner Uberschall model) or the Dual Rectifier (Mesa model). 4x12 Recto Marshall 1960 cabinet equipped with Celestion Vintage 30 (V30) speakers is essential for that signature "bite". Microphones : Use a classic slightly off-axis paired with a C12 condenser to capture both the grit and the room's depth. Critical Amp Settings For a balanced A7X tone, aim for these general parameters: : 6–7 (Avoid maxing it out to keep chord clarity).
: 5–6 (Keep it tight; too much will "flub" during fast palm-muting).
: 3–4 (A slight "scoop" is classic for metalcore, but don't go to zero or you'll lose solo definition). Treble/Presence
: 6–7 (This provides the "sizzle" for artificial harmonics). Guitar Chalk Pedalboard Secrets Overdrive/Tightening Tube Screamer model (T-Rex Moller or similar) before the amp with Drive at 0 Level at 10
. This acts as a filter to tighten the low end for "Unholy Confessions" style riffs. Compressor Master the Avenged Sevenfold Tone in AmpliTube 5
(like the Fender model) on a low setting to enhance pick articulation during fast alternate picking. Noise Gate
: Mandatory. Place it first in the chain to ensure "stop-start" riffs remain dead silent. Tuning & Technique : Most tracks are in (DADGBE). Some later tracks like "Victim" use
: Use "Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom" strings to maintain tension on the low D while keeping the high strings bendable for Syn's signature sweeps. Amplitube 5 | Metal Tone Tutorial
To nail the Avenged Sevenfold sound in AmpliTube 5, you'll need to leverage high-gain "British-voiced" amps and a very specific EQ strategy to capture Synyster Gates’ signature tight, aggressive tone. While there isn't an "official" A7X expansion pack from IK Multimedia like there is for Slash or Dimebag Darrell, the software's vast library of Mesa, Bogner, and Engl models provides everything you need to build the rig yourself. Core Gear & Amp Selection
Depending on which era of the band's sound you're chasing, your amp choice will vary: Early Era (Waking the Fallen): Reach for the Mesa Boogie Dual Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Triple Rectifier Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
models. These deliver the "spanky," mid-heavy high-gain required for tracks like "Unholy Confessions". Modern Era (City of Evil & Beyond): Try the Bogner Uberschall Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
(available as the "German Gain" or via official Bogner models) or an Engl Powerball for a tighter, more refined modern metal sound. Step 5: The Effects (For Solos & Ambience)
The "British" Alternative: Synyster Gates' own signature amps are often EL34-loaded, so using British-style high-gain heads (like the Marshall Silver Jubilee Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
) can provide that punchy mid-range presence the band favors. Critical Dial-In Settings
Avenged Sevenfold Amp Settings (gear and tone tips) - Guitar Chalk
Step 5: The Effects (For Solos & Ambience)
- Delay: Digital Delay
- Time: 480ms (sync to dotted 8th if playing to a click)
- Feedback: 30%
- Mix: 20%
- Reverb: Hall Reverb
- Decay: 2.5 seconds
- Pre-delay: 50ms
- Mix: 15% (This gives that So Far Away cathedral feel without washing out palm mutes).
- EQ (Post Amp): Cut everything below 80Hz (High Pass). Cut everything above 10kHz (Low Pass). Boost +2dB at 1.5kHz for vocal-like mids.
6. If You Don't Have the Official Pack
Best free alternative chain:
- Pedal: Overdrive (Level 9, Tone 6, Drive 2)
- Amp: British Tube Lead (Gain 7, Master 5)
- Cab: 4x12 Brit Vintage (SM57 + R121 mics)
- Post: EQ (boost 2-4kHz, cut below 80Hz)
The Core Philosophy
Avenged Sevenfold’s guitar sound (Synyster Gates & Zacky Vengeance) is defined by three things:
- High Gain Saturation (but not muddy)
- Tight Low End (for fast palm muting)
- Solo Mid-Boost (for that singing lead)
They primarily use Schecter guitars (Synyster Gates Custom) with active pickups (Sustainiac neck, high-output bridge) into Marshall JCM800s and later Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifiers, blended with Bogner and Friedman amps.
AmpliTube 5 has exact (or near-exact) models of these.
Step 4: The Cabinet & Microphones - The Secret Sauce
AmpliTube 5’s VIR cabinet is where you win or lose.
- Cabinet: 4x12 Slant (Mesa Rectifier standard)
- Speakers: Vintage 30s (V30)
- Mic 1: Dynamic 57A (Shure SM57)
- Position: Cap Edge 1.5 inches
- Distance: 0.5 inches
- Angle: 0 degrees
- Mic 2: R-121 Ribbon (Royer)
- Position: Cap Center 1.0 inches
- Distance: 2.0 inches
- Angle: 15 degrees off-axis
- Mix Level: Blend 70% SM57 / 30% Ribbon. This yields the aggressive pick attack (57) with the warm low-end thickness (Royer). This is the modern metal cab recipe.
Overdrive Pedal (use Tube Drive):
- Drive: 6
- Tone: 8
- Level: 7