Zakk Wylde Amp Settings & Guitar Rig – Sound Just Like Him!

Author: Dedrich Schafer | Updated: | This post may contain affiliate links.

From his early career, taking over lead guitar duties from Randy Rhoads for Ozzy, to his own successful band, Black Label Society, to going solo, Zakk Wylde has become one of the most influential modern metal guitarists.

But what does a modern legend like Zakk use to create his crushing, fiery sound? Here is a rig rundown of Zakk Wylde’s gear and settings.

Zakk Wylde’s Gear

Zakk Wylde’s rig setup is a lot more straightforward than you might expect. He is one of those guitarists that clearly believes that you don’t need a very elaborate setup to create a fantastic sound.

Unlike many other guitarists, his setup also hasn’t changed much over his very long career. Apart from a few new signature models (which are hard to find in stock) he has been using the same guitar, amps, and pedals, for the most part, since 1988.

Wylde’s Guitars

Zakk Wylde is best known for playing Gibson guitars. Specifically, Gibson Les Pauls, often featuring his signature bullseye design. If you want to be as true to his sound as possible without trying to get your hands on a Zakk Wylde signature, then a Les Paul Custom is the way to go.

These guitars have become a staple of his iconic look and sound. Wylde’s custom Les Pauls come equipped with his signature EMG 81/85 active pickups, renowned for their high-output and aggressive sound.

The most important thing is that it is a Les Paul with humbuckers. Anything else and you won’t be able to get that fat, dirty Wylde sound. He does also play SGs on occasion, but his main guitar is a Les Paul.

In 2015, Zakk launched his own line of guitars called Wylde Audio. This brand offers a variety of unique guitar models, including the Warhammer, Viking V, and Odin. These instruments maintain the signature sound that Zakk is known for while offering distinct body shapes and aesthetics.

If you’re seeking a more budget-friendly option, Epiphone offers the Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom (which is hard to find in stock these days). It boasts similar features as its Gibson counterparts. These guitars come with passive EMG-HZ H4 pickups, which still deliver a powerful tone reminiscent of Zakk’s signature sound.

For a more common and budget-friendly option, you can’t go wrong with an Epiphone Les Paul Standard. You can also upgrade the pickups on the Epiphone to his EMG Active Signature Humbucker Pickups if you want to get closer to his sound without his specific guitar.

Strings and Tuning: The Foundation of Tone

One factor many guitarists overlook in their quest for the classic crunch is strings. However, Zakk Wylde is quick to emphasize the crucial role his preferred strings, GHS Boomers, play in shaping his technique and sound.

He specifically uses a hybrid set, GHS T.N.T., with the following gauges:

  • .060
  • .052
  • .036
  • .017
  • .013
  • .010

Zakk’s custom set features the E, B, and G strings from a pack of .010 gauge strings, while the bottom three strings are borrowed from a pack of .011’s. The heavier bottom strings are particularly advantageous for rhythm playing.

Zakk explains that due to his aggressive playing style, lighter strings result in sloppy rhythm playing, as they don’t snap back quickly enough. The thicker strings provide the necessary resistance and durability for his hard-hitting approach.

Additionally, Zakk’s tuning is essential for achieving his signature sound. He tunes his guitar to the following pitches:

  • C# (low E string)
  • G# (A string)
  • C# (D string)
  • F# (G string)
  • A# (B string)
  • D# (high E string)

This tuning not only contributes to the heaviness and depth of his tone but also complements his playing style and techniques. By using Zakk’s preferred strings and tuning, you can further enhance the authenticity of your tone, getting closer to the powerful, aggressive sound for which he is known.

Wylde’s Amps

In Zakk’s own words, “As long as it says Marshall on it, we’re good to go.”

So that means that our only option for amps is Marshall. For the amp head, the JCM800 is the one to go for. This is then paired with a 4×12 Marshall cabinet like the 1960B or 1960A.

If you want to choose the combo amp route, the JVM210C is a great option. It has a lot of power to drive the massive amount of distortion and volume needed for his sound.

For clean parts and songs without any distortion, Wylde switches over to a Roland Jazz Chorus amp. The JC-40 should do the job just fine or the JC-120 for a bit more power.

For a budget combo amp, you can get something like the Marshall ORI50 or the Marshall Code 50 if you want to take the digital route.

Zakk Wylde’s Amp Settings

With the right gear now at hand, it is time to dial in Zakk Wylde’s sound.

His sound is very thick and heavy, which means that most of the focus when dialing in his tone will be on the low end and the gain.

The easiest way to achieve the heaviness of his sound, you simply need to crank up the bass and the gain. So just turn them both up to 10, while keeping everything else at about halfway and you are good to go.

Marshall amps are designed to handle this much low end and distortion, so there shouldn’t be any break-up. The treble might need a little bit of tuning, but setting it to 4 or 5 should yield ideal results.

Your settings should then look something like this:

  • Gain – 10
  • Bass – 10
  • Mid – 5
  • Treble – 4/5
  • Presence – 5

If these settings don’t sound quite right to you, then try turning up the mids and treble a bit. Also, pull back on the presence, as low as possible.

You shouldn’t have to go much higher than 6 for both the mids and the treble. And try to keep the presence to around 2 at the least.

This variation should then be:

  • Gain – 10
  • Bass – 10
  • Mids – 6
  • Treble – 6
  • Presence – 2/3

Ultimately your experience might vary and these settings might not sound exactly the way you want it to. But with a little bit of tinkering, you should get to the right sound in no time.

For an even more authentic recreation of Zakk’s tone, consider his pick attack and vibrato techniques. Wylde is known for his aggressive pick attack and wide, expressive vibrato, which contribute to the distinctiveness of his sound. Incorporate these techniques into your playing to emulate his style more accurately.

No More Tears

The iconic “No More Tears” tone is an excellent example of Zakk Wylde’s signature sound. To achieve this tone, set your amp as follows:

  • Gain: 9
  • Bass: 7
  • Mid: 3
  • Treble: 6
  • Presence: 7

Additionally, engage your overdrive pedal to increase gain and sustain. The combination of high-gain amp settings and an overdrive pedal will yield the thick, saturated sound that characterizes this classic song.

To achieve a closer approximation, pay attention to Zakk’s use of pinch harmonics, which feature prominently in “No More Tears.” Mastering these techniques will further enhance the authenticity of your tone.

Wylde’s Pedals

Just like his guitar and amp, Zakk’s pedal setup is equally simple and straightforward. To recreate his sound, you only need a few pedals to get pretty close to his pedalboard.

Overdrive

In the early days, The Boss SD-1 used to be the driving force behind the distortion. These days, he’s mostly seen using a signature MXR ZW44 Berzerker Overdrive, but it’s very hard to come by new.

For the overdrive pedal, you can also opt for something versatile from MXR like the Duke of Tone, or something even cheaper and compact like the EarthQuaker Plumes.

Chorus

For chorus, BOSS CH-1 used to be his choice. It is going to expand the sound and give it its presence and size.

These days, Zakk often prefers the MXR M234 Analog Chorus, providing that classic, lush effect that adds depth and dimension to his sound. This pedal is known for its warm and organic tone, making it an excellent addition to any pedalboard.

Expressions / Wah

Zakk is regularly seen using the Dunlop Rotovibe expressions pedal extensively.

In the early days, he used a Dunlop Jimi Hendrix wah pedal.

Since then, Zakk’s signature wah pedal, the Dunlop ZW45 Zakk Wylde Signature Cry Baby (another scarcely available pedal), was released. It offers an aggressive, expressive sound. This wah pedal has a unique voicing that emphasizes the midrange frequencies, allowing guitarists to cut through the mix while maintaining a rich and full sound.

Since his signature guitars & pedals are either discontinued or very hard to come by, you have to make do with commonly available options in the market. For the wah pedal, you can either go with a Dunlop GCB95 or Dunlop MC404 CAE (more featured-packed and expensive).

Other Pedals

Apart from the pedals above which he uses most commonly, he’s also seen using a few others from time to time. These include:

These are not essential to emulating his core tone, however. He mainly uses them for specific songs / parts, and while on duty for Black Label Society.

Chorus Settings

For chorus parts, the Boss CH-1 is switched on. The EQ on the CH-1 should be set fairly close to high.

Some adjustments to the mids might need to be made to counter the higher treble of the CH-1. This is to avoid a scooped mids sound.

For the MXR M234 Analog Chorus, set the controls as follows:

  • Rate: 5
  • Depth: 7
  • Level: 6

This configuration will produce a rich, full chorus effect that complements Zakk’s heavy riffing. The chorus pedal adds depth and dimension to the overall tone, making it an essential component of his signature sound.

Pedal Settings for Zakk’s Signature Pedals

Overdrive (MXR ZW44):

  • Output: 5
  • Tone: 6
  • Gain: 7

The MXR ZW44 overdrive pedal was designed in collaboration with Zakk himself, so the pedal’s settings help create the perfect balance of gain, sustain, and harmonic richness that defines Zakk’s tone.

The output setting at 5 provides a powerful signal boost without overwhelming your amp, while the tone setting at 6 adds warmth and enhances the mid-range frequencies, ensuring that the guitar cuts through the mix. The gain setting at 7 delivers the right amount of distortion for that signature aggressive sound, while still maintaining clarity and note definition.

Wah (Dunlop ZW45):

  • Q Control: Middle Position

The Dunlop ZW45 Zakk Wylde Signature Cry Baby Wah pedal has also been specifically tailored to Zakk’s specifications. Setting the Q control to the middle position produces a balanced, expressive wah sound that complements his playing style.

The pedal’s custom voicing helps accentuate the lower frequencies, making it ideal for Zakk’s heavy riffing and screaming solos. This wah pedal is known for its wide sweep range and sharp attack, which enables the guitarist to create those distinct, vocal-like effects that have become synonymous with Zakk’s style.

Conclusion

Like so many other legendary guitarists, Zakk Wylde is proof that you don’t need an over-the-top setup to achieve an incredible sound. A guitar, an amp, and a distortion pedal can get the job done just as well as an entire studio’s worth of equipment.

At the end of the day, I think that the best advice to follow comes right from the mouth of Zakk Wylde himself. He said, “You plug it in and you turn it on, you turn up all the knobs. And then, whatever’s sticking out that you don’t like, you just turn it down.”

So oftentimes simplicity and just using your ear is the best way to get the tone you are looking for. Use these settings as a starting point and adjust them according to your own gear and preferences.

With some experimentation and practice, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a unique tone that pays tribute to the legendary Zakk Wylde. Rock on!

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About Dedrich Schafer

Dedrich is a guitar player, songwriter and sound engineer with extensive music production and studio experience. He mostly listens to classic rock and punk bands, but sometimes also likes listening to rap and acoustic songs.

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