How to Dial In "Drop the Hammer Down" by Overkill - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Drop the Hammer Down"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From The Electric Age (2012). The Electric Age is the sixteenth studio album by thrash metal band Overkill, which was released on March 27, 2012 in the U.S. on eOne Music and in Europe three days later on Nuclear Blast. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP LTD EC-1000 through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Overkill's other songs from The Electric Age, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Drop the Hammer Down" Tone
What guitar did Overkill use on "Drop the Hammer Down"?
The guitar on "Drop the Hammer Down" (released 2012) isn't documented; the ESP LTD EC-1000 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Drop the Hammer Down" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6.5, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Drop the Hammer Down" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Drop the Hammer Down" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Drop the Hammer Down" by Overkill are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.