[Rev2010]

I'm posting this here as I think it's probably more gear related than recording related.

Listening to some tracks done by Jonathan Davis for the Queen of the Damned soundtrack I got to wondering how they've achieved this growling chainsaw like (best way I can describe) sound to the guitars. To me it really sounds like a Mesa Rectifier cranked up near max volume. At least I imagine it's what a Mesa would sound like cranked. I have a Triple Rec myself and am completely in love with the tone, but this specific sound I'm hearing has me totally intrigued. I really like it, it's vicious. Anyway, here's a very short clip of the song "System" from the Queen of the Damned soundtrack (this is with Jonathan Davis actually singing). It's just a clip to highlight the sound I'm talking about:

http://www.skateboardspecs.com/temp/clip.mp3

So, does anyone know how this sound is achieved? Is it a Mesa, since I know at this time period they had already switched to Mesa, cranked to near full volume? I would try it myself but the Triple is so loud I'd have the cops at my door if I cranked it. Or is it some layering and processing? I would thinking layering would take way from that chainsaw sound as too many waveforms would likely turn it more into a buzz rather than that oscillation growl. Thanks in advance for any info!


Rev.

[zimbloth]

I know certain Hughes & Kettner amps have been known to have that kind of sound, but more than likely it's some kind of pedal being used in conjunction with the amps overdrive. If I recall they used a Big Muff on their Mesas at some point.

Sorry I don't have your exact answer, just going by some vague memories.

[skinhead]

That korn?

Ok man, you can have that sound like this:

Low tuning (oh yeah!)
Big Muff Pi with a lot of distor
red chanel on the mesa with a little bit of distor, mids in 0 and bass in 7 with treble in 6.88.
Then put some little reverb, but a little, or maybe a stereo delay for a "complete" sound and more abrassive.

That's my way to do it.

Saludos!

[Rev2010]

They used Hughes & Kettner amps on the first album I know for sure. Probably another album or two then they went with Mesa and stuck with that. The Big Muff I know for sure was used on the first album but am not sure how many albums thereafter it was used on. But anyhow, by the time Davis did the Queen of the Damned Soundtrack they definitely weren't using H&K amps, they were using Mesa Triple Recs. I don't think they were using the Big Muff but I can't be certain of course.

By the way, this sound isn't really the "Korn" sound. It's different. The whole band didn't work on this soundtrack. It was primarily Davis and Richard Gibbs (currently most known for a fucking KICK ASS Battlestar Galactica-tv show-soundtrack!).


Rev.

[zimbloth]

Well Coal Chamber's "Chamber Music" album has that chainsaw sound and I know they used H&K's on that one too.

[garcia3441]

I have crappy speakers on my computer, and can barely make out the sound you're talking about. But you could always do it the Jackyl way, and use a real chainsaw.
Of course you're neighbors won't be to happy with you.

[Regor]

It's a bit hard to tell from that clip, but it sounds to me like they might be accomplishing that kinda tone by turning the bass up high and letting that distort the tone, instead of using the gain for distortion. I've heard many bands use that technique for a different type of distortion sound. Sounds a lot raw-er of a tone.

[Drew]

Originally Posted by Rev2010

They used Hughes & Kettner amps on the first album I know for sure. Probably another album or two then they went with Mesa and stuck with that. The Big Muff I know for sure was used on the first album but am not sure how many albums thereafter it was used on. But anyhow, by the time Davis did the Queen of the Damned Soundtrack they definitely weren't using H&K amps, they were using Mesa Triple Recs. I don't think they were using the Big Muff but I can't be certain of course.

By the way, this sound isn't really the "Korn" sound. It's different. The whole band didn't work on this soundtrack. It was primarily Davis and Richard Gibbs (currently most known for a fucking KICK ASS Battlestar Galactica-tv show-soundtrack!).


Rev.

Yeah, if you're going for a pedal, the Big Muff is one way to go, and a Pro Co Rat is worth a look, too... I believe the Smashing Pumpkins used one of those as well, and they get pretty chain-saw-y at times, too. Both pedals, in my experience, have a round, very prominant "gain" sound to them.

The other thing though, is probably EQ and possibly pickups. If you listen, the guitar really isn't THAT bright. a round, not-very edgy pickup would probably be a good start, as would an amp setting with lots of bass and the highs and presence rolled back, and a good amount of gain. Finally, if you're absolutely desperate, try your neck pickup.

Push the gain up to make it snarl like that, but then roll your highs off so it's not crunchy. That should get you ballpark...

[The Dark Wolf]

I think Nick and Rog are on the right track, and probably you, too, Rev.

At a guess, it sounds lkike probably layered guitar tracks, but the majority of the tone sems to be a very bassy fuzz pedal in front of a cranked amp, probably with lots of bass itself. You get a whole new world of overdriven tones that way, because the pedal is providing distortion, the bass is overdriving the signal, and the cranked amp itself is providing grit.

I used to do that waaaay back in the day when I had a tube amp. It's not good for technical, precise stuff, but it's a neat sorta grungy effect, good for slow chords (they have to have room to breath ) like this.


I love Jon's songs from this movie, BTW!


As for what Drew says - yeah, I'm thinking Big Muff (or similar) too. It has that same kinda sound. The pickups, to my ears, sound like Blazes. A bit of edge, but not overly bright, and has that peculiar midrange sound Blazes have. (Just guessing there.)

[Drew]

I'm with you, Bob - it's got the Blaze lower mid growl, and I believe they had the actors in the movie playing guitarists pictured with 777BK's, so it makes sense.

EDIT - and, I'm not saying "Sell your Blackjack for a 777BK" because, while it doesn't have quite the same depth to the low end, the JB has an awesome snarl to the tone that'd lend itself nicely for this sort of tone. You'll have to lean on the pedal or amp a bit more for bass, but it'll get you ballpark.