Rating: 9/10
Unlocking the Aggressive Sound of Avenged Sevenfold with Preset Guitar Rig 5
Avenged Sevenfold, one of the most iconic metal bands of the 21st century, has been known for their aggressive and melodic soundscapes. A significant factor in achieving this distinctive tone is their guitar work, characterized by crushing riffs, soaring leads, and a rich, layered sound. For guitar enthusiasts and producers looking to replicate this sound, Guitar Rig 5 presets offer a convenient and powerful solution. In this article, we'll explore how to use preset guitar rig 5 Avenged Sevenfold to unlock the band's signature sound.
The Evolution of Avenged Sevenfold's Sound
Avenged Sevenfold's discography spans over two decades, with their sound evolving significantly over the years. From the early days of "Sounding the Seventh Trumpet" to the more recent releases like "The Stage" and "Life Is But a Dream...", the band has consistently pushed the boundaries of heavy music. Their guitarists, Synyster Gates and Jim "The Rev" Sullivan (RIP), have been instrumental in shaping this sound, often employing a range of techniques, from palm-muted chords to intricate lead work.
Guitar Rig 5: A Powerful Tool for Tone Shaping
Guitar Rig 5, a flagship product from Native Instruments, is a comprehensive software suite designed for guitarists and producers. It features an extensive range of amplifiers, cabinets, effects, and processors, allowing users to craft a wide variety of tones. The software's preset system enables users to instantly switch between different configurations, making it an ideal platform for exploring various sounds, including those of Avenged Sevenfold.
Preset Guitar Rig 5 Avenged Sevenfold: A Custom Solution
To create a preset guitar rig 5 Avenged Sevenfold, you'll need to draw inspiration from the band's guitar work and translate it into a Guitar Rig 5 preset. Here are some steps to follow:
Tips for Creating an Authentic Avenged Sevenfold Sound
To create an authentic Avenged Sevenfold sound using preset guitar rig 5 Avenged Sevenfold, keep the following tips in mind:
Conclusion
Recreating Avenged Sevenfold's aggressive and melodic sound using preset guitar rig 5 Avenged Sevenfold requires a deep understanding of the band's guitar work and a willingness to experiment with Guitar Rig 5's vast feature set. By following the steps outlined in this article, you'll be well on your way to unlocking the secrets of Avenged Sevenfold's tone and creating your own presets that capture the essence of their music. Whether you're a guitarist, producer, or simply a fan of the band, the possibilities offered by preset guitar rig 5 Avenged Sevenfold are endless, and the results can be nothing short of spectacular.
Additional Resources
For those interested in exploring more presets and techniques for achieving an Avenged Sevenfold sound, here are some additional resources:
Final Tips
As you embark on your journey to create a preset guitar rig 5 Avenged Sevenfold, keep in mind:
By following these guidelines and tips, you'll be well on your way to creating an authentic Avenged Sevenfold sound using preset guitar rig 5 Avenged Sevenfold. Happy playing!
To recreate the signature Avenged Sevenfold tone in Guitar Rig 5, you should focus on a high-gain "tight" metal sound characterized by mid-range punch and high-end clarity. Synyster Gates typically uses high-gain tube amps like the Schecter Hellwin or Marshall JCM800 styles. Guitar Rig 5 Component Chain
Input / Gate: Use the Noise Gate at the start of the rack to eliminate hum, especially since you will be using high gain.
Overdrive (The "Tightener"): Add a Skreamer (based on the Tube Screamer). Set Drive very low (0–2) and Volume/Level high. This cuts flabby low-end and boosts mids for that signature "chug".
Amplifier: Choose the Lead 800 (Marshall style) or Van 51 (Peavey 5150 style). Gain: 6–8 (enough for sustain, but avoid "mush"). Bass: 4–5 (keep it tight). Mids: 7–8 (this is where the A7X punch lives). Treble: 6–7 for clarity.
Cabinet: Use the Control Room or Matched Cabinet. Select a 4x12 Vintage or Modern cabinet. Use a Dynamic 57 microphone slightly off-center for a balanced bite.
EQ: Add a Solid EQ or Custom EQ. Boost around 3kHz for pick attack and slightly scoop the frequencies around 400Hz to clean up any "boxiness." Effects (Optional): preset guitar rig 5 avenged sevenfold
Chorus: For clean sections (like the "Bat Country" intro), use the Electric Lady or Ensemble with a slow rate.
Delay: Add a Twin Delay for lead solos, set to a subtle mix. How to Save Your Preset
Once you have dialed in the tone, you can save it for future use: Click the Save As button in the preset browser. Name it (e.g., "A7X Syn Gates Lead").
You can find your custom files manually on Windows at Documents\Native Instruments\User Content\Guitar Rig 5\Rack Presets.
Watch this guide on how to manage and save your custom presets within the Guitar Rig interface:
This report details how to reconstruct the signature guitar tones of Avenged Sevenfold—specifically focusing on Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance
—using the components available in Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5. 1. The Core Amp Selection
To replicate the band's aggressive yet clear high-gain sound, you must select amplifiers that mimic their real-world gear, such as the Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (used extensively in the City of Evil era) or Gates' custom Schecter Hellwin . Primary Amp Choice: " ": This is based on the Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
, which provides the tight palm-muted "thump" and saturation characteristic of Avenged Sevenfold's rhythm tracks. Secondary Amp Choice: " ": This model is based on the Mesa/Boogie Rectifier
. It is excellent for a thicker, more "wall-of-sound" rhythm tone with a massive low-end response.
Clean Amp Choice: "Cool Plex" or "Jazz Amp": For the bright, sparkling cleans found in songs like "Buried Alive," use these with high treble and slight gain for added body. 2. Recommended Signal Chain & Settings
Achieving the "A7X" sound requires more than just gain; it requires surgical EQ and specific "boost" techniques to keep the low-end from becoming muddy. A. Input & Pre-Processing
Skreamer (Overdrive): Place this before the amp. Set Drive at 0, Tone at 5-6, and Volume at 10. This "tightens" the amp's response, making palm mutes more percussive.
Noise Gate: Place this first in your rack. An aggressive threshold (around -40dB) is essential for the band's signature "stop-start" syncopated riffing. B. Amplifier Settings (Lead/High Gain)
Gain: 7.0 – 8.5 (Avoid cranking to 10 to maintain clarity). Bass: 5.0 – 6.0.
Mids: 3.5 – 5.0 (A slight "scoop" is okay for rhythm, but keep mids higher for leads to "cut" through). Treble: 6.5 – 8.0. Presence: 6.0 – 7.0. C. Post-Processing (The "Studio" Finish)
Graphic EQ: Use this to cut muddiness around 250Hz and boost the 1-2kHz range for presence. Apply a sharp high-cut filter at 8kHz to remove digital "fizz". Control Room / Cabinet: Use the 4x12 Vintage 30 cabinet IR for the most authentic mid-range bite. 3. Lead Guitar vs. Rhythm Specifics
While I cannot host a direct file download here, here is the exact text-based configuration you can manually dial in.
Preset Name: A7X - HttK Rhythm
Rack Layout:
Noise Gate>Skreamer>Gratifier>Control Room>Studio EQ>Tape Echo(Off by default)
Skreamer Details:
Drive 0.00 / Tone 6.50 / Output 8.00
Gratifier Details:
Amp Model: Modern / Gain 6.00 / Bass 3.50 / Middle 7.50 / Treble 6.50 / Presence 7.20 / Master 5.00
Control Room:
Cab: 4x12 Metal / Mic: Dynamic 57 / Pos: 1.20 inches Rating: 9/10
Equalizer (Final Stage):
Low Shelf: +2dB @ 120Hz / Parametric: -4dB @ 350Hz (Q: 1.5) / High Shelf: +3dB @ 3kHz
To achieve the signature Avenged Sevenfold sound in Guitar Rig 5
, you need a setup that mimics Synyster Gates' high-gain, tight, and articulate tone. The core of his sound relies on modern high-gain British and American tube amplifiers, aggressive noise gating, and specific EQ sculpting. Core Component Selection
Build your Guitar Rig 5 rack with these specific components to replicate their rig: Amplifier (The Foundation):
: For a "City of Evil" or classic British high-gain sound, similar to the Marshall JVM Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Go to product viewer dialog for this item. they used. Gratifier:
For a more modern, thick "Waking the Fallen" tone, mimicking the Mesa Boogie Rectifier Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Ultrasonic: Use this if you want to emulate the Bogner Uberschall Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , Synyster’s primary recording amp for many albums. Cabinet: Use a 4x12 Matched Cab with Vintage 30 speakers and a virtual SM57 microphone Go to product viewer dialog for this item. for the most accurate attack. Pedals:
(Overdrive): Place this before the amp with Gain low and Volume high to tighten the low end.
Noise Reduction: A Noise Gate is essential at the start of the chain to handle high-gain hiss. Recommended Settings
Adjust these parameters to dial in the specific A7X "sweet spot": Rhythm Setting Lead Setting Gain 6.5 – 7.5 Bass 5 – 6 (Keep tight) Mid 3.5 – 4 (Slight scoop) 7 (For vocal-like solos) Treble Presence Essential Effects for Synyster Gates
Pitch Shifter: For songs like "Nobody," use a pitch shifter or emulation.
Delay & Reverb: Keep rhythm tracks dry. Use Twin Delay and a subtle Reflektor hall reverb for lead solos to add depth. Wah Pedal: Synyster frequently uses a Cry Baby Wah for expressive lead work. Tuning Requirements
Ensure your guitar is tuned correctly for their discography:
Drop D: Primary tuning for most songs (e.g., "Bat Country," "Nightmare"). Drop C# / Db: Used for Hail to the King. Drop C: Used for heavier tracks like "Radiant Eclipse." Avenged Sevenfold Amp Settings (gear and tone tips)
Avenged Sevenfold Amp Settings Suggestions * Channel: Red (Lead) * Gain: 8.5. * Low (Bass): 5.5. * Mid: 3.5. * High (Treble): 6.5. Guitar Chalk·Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold Amp Settings (gear and tone tips) - Guitar Chalk
To capture the signature Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) sound in Guitar Rig 5
, you need to emulate the high-gain, mid-focused "British-voiced" roar favored by Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance. Their tone is defined by tight low-end, aggressive but smooth mids, and clear high-end detail, typically achieved using amps like the Marshall JCM800 Bogner Uberschall , or their signature Schecter Hellwin Creating the A7X Preset in Guitar Rig 5 1. The Amplifier Selection
The foundation of the A7X sound is a high-gain head that retains clarity. Lead 800 (Marshall JCM800 Emulation):
This is the classic choice for their early and mid-era sound. It provides the necessary mid-range punch. Marshall Plexi
Use this if you are aiming for a more classic rock-tinged tone, though it may require a boost pedal to reach modern metal gain levels. Gratifier (Mesa/ Boogie Rectifier Emulation):
While A7X leans British, they have used Rectifiers for their massive low-end and "sludgy" palm mutes. 2. The Cabinet (Control Room) 4x12 Vintage 30: This is the industry standard for A7X-style metal. Use the Control Room Matched Cabinet module and select a 4x12 cab with Vintage 30 Mic Placement: Use a dynamic mic (like the
emulation) placed slightly off-axis for a balance of bite and body. 3. Signal Chain & Essential Components Noise Gate:
Place this at the very beginning of your chain. A7X riffs often feature sudden stops that must be dead silent. Skreamer ( Ibanez Tube Screamer Emulation): the amp. Set the Tone to 5-6 Volume/Level to 10 Unlocking the Aggressive Sound of Avenged Sevenfold with
. This "tightens" the amp’s low end and adds a mid-hump that helps solos cut through the mix. EQ (Solid EQ or Graphic EQ):
Aim for a "balanced" curve. Avoid "scooping" the mids entirely. 7 (for that Synyster Gates "honk") Delay & Reverb: Twin Delay and a small amount of Studio Hall
reverb, but only for lead parts. Keep rhythm tracks dry for maximum tightness. Guitar & Performance Tips Drop D Tuning:
Most A7X tracks (like "Unholy Confessions" or "Bat Country") are in (D-A-D-G-B-E). Passive Pickups:
The band famously prefers high-output passive pickups, such as the Seymour Duncan Invader (Synyster) or Seymour Duncan JB (Zacky), over active pickups. Picking Technique:
Much of the "tone" comes from aggressive down-picking and precise palm muting.
For pre-made options, you can often find user-created "A7X" or "Synyster Gates" presets on community forums like the Native Instruments User Library or sites like GuitarPatches.com City of Evil
How to get avenged sevenfolds tone? - Synner Official Website 4 Jan 2018 —
There are no official "Avenged Sevenfold" presets installed by default in Guitar Rig 5, and copying settings from a picture manually can be tedious.
Below is a ready-to-use text block formatted specifically for Guitar Rig 5. You can copy the code below, save it as a text file, and load it directly into the plugin.
This preset is designed to capture the "City of Evil" / "Nightmare" era tone: a high-gain heavy metal sound with a tight low end, scooped mids, and crisp highs, utilizing the Van 51 amp model (modeled after a Peavey 5150, which is Synyster Gates' primary amp).
Instructions:
<NG5_File type="preset" version="1">
<info name="A7X Heavy Metal" author="User" category="Metal"/>
<module id="rack" type="RackContainer">
<module id="noise_gate" type="NoiseGate">
<param name="Threshold" value="-45.0"/>
<param name="Attack" value="0.5"/>
<param name="Release" value="50.0"/>
</module>
<module id="eq_pre" type="EQ">
<param name="Low Gain" value="-2.0"/>
<param name="Mid Gain" value="-3.0"/>
<param name="Mid Freq" value="800.0"/>
<param name="High Gain" value="1.0"/>
</module>
<module id="amp" type="Van 51">
<param name="Lead/Rhythm" value="1.0"/>
<param name="Gain" value="8.0"/>
<param name="Bass" value="5.5"/>
<param name="Mid" value="3.0"/>
<param name="Treble" value="7.5"/>
<param name="Presence" value="6.0"/>
<param name="Resonance" value="5.0"/>
<param name="Master" value="5.0"/>
</module>
<module id="cab" type="Matched Cabinet">
<param name="Cabinet" value="4x12 Dual Rectifier"/>
<param name="Mic" value="Dynamic 57"/>
<param name="Mic Position" value="Center"/>
</module>
<module id="eq_post" type="EQ">
<param name="Low Gain" value="2.0"/>
<param name="High Gain" value="2.5"/>
<param name="High Freq" value="5000.0"/>
</module>
<module id="delay" type="TapeEcho">
<param name="Time" value="300.0"/>
<param name="Feedback" value="30.0"/>
<param name="Mix" value="15.0"/>
<param name="HiCut" value="4000.0"/>
</module>
<module id="reverb" type="SpringReverb">
<param name="Size" value="Small"/>
<param name="Decay" value="1.2"/>
<param name="Mix" value="10.0"/>
</module>
<module id="limiter" type="Limiter">
<param name="Threshold" value="0.0"/>
<param name="Release" value="Auto"/>
</module>
</module>
</NG5_File>
(Note: If Guitar Rig gives an error importing this, it is because version numbers differ. In that case, follow Option 2 below which is manual but guaranteed to work.)
While there is no official "Avenged Sevenfold" license pack for Guitar Rig 5, the most downloaded community patches share a specific signal chain. Here is what you would typically find inside a well-rated preset:
1. The Noise Gate (Input) Synyster plays fast, complex riffs (e.g., "Beast and the Harlot"). Without a gate at the front, GR5’s high-gain models get muddy. The Transparent Gate is usually set to around 11 o’clock.
2. The Amp Model: "Gratifier" (Lead) The secret sauce. The Gratifier (a Marshall JCM800 simulator on steroids) is the most common choice. However, to get that Bogner "crunch," users stack two gratifiers in parallel:
3. The Cab Simulator: "Control Room" (XXL 4x12) This is where most presets fail. Stock cabs sound digital. An accurate A7X patch uses the Control Room with a custom impulse response (IR) loaded via a third-party loader (like NadIR). Without an outside IR of a Mesa Oversized 4x12, you are fighting an uphill battle.
4. The Effects Chain for Leads
For nearly two decades, Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) has defined the modern heavy metal landscape. From the crushing rhythms of Waking the Fallen to the orchestral grandeur of The Stage, guitarists Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance have crafted a sound that is instantly recognizable: harmonized leads, massive low-end chunk, and searing, lyrical solos.
But replicating that sound is expensive. The duo is known for using high-end gear: Schecter guitars, Seymour Duncan Invaders, and a wall of massive amps like the Marshall JCM800, Peavey 5150, and the legendary Randall Thrashers.
Enter Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5. Though it has been succeeded by Guitar Rig 6 and 7, GR5 remains a cult favorite for metal players because of its low CPU usage, intuitive interface, and—most importantly—its ability to mimic complex rigs with surprising accuracy.
In this article, we will break down exactly how to build the perfect preset Guitar Rig 5 for Avenged Sevenfold, covering everything from their City of Evil twang to the Hail to the King thump.
A7X plays high-gain. Noise is your enemy.
To review these presets fairly, one must understand the target tone. Avenged Sevenfold’s sound is defined by the "Gates/Vengeance" dual-guitar attack. It relies heavily on:
Guitar Rig 5 attempts to emulate this using its internal components, primarily the "Citrus" amp model (based on an Orange Rockerverb) or "Van 51" (Mesa Boogie Mark series) to simulate the high-gain channel.