How to Dial In "Testify" by Rage Against the Machine - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Testify"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Marshall JCM800 2210. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Morello's black 1982 Telecaster into a Marshall JCM800 half stack, drop D. The intro is not a riff: he strikes the open low D and flicks the pickup toggle rapidly between neck and bridge with BOTH pickup volumes maxed so neither position is silent, while sweeping a Cry Baby slowly from bass to treble — a DigiTech Whammy set to 'seventh' (harmonising a minor seventh above) and a very short slapback delay sit behind it. The body of the song is a D7#9 chord answered by a D minor pentatonic single-note line; the toggle/wah/Whammy trick is the sound people are actually chasing.
Common Questions About the "Testify" Tone
What guitar did Rage Against the Machine use on "Testify"?
Rage Against the Machine tracked "Testify" on a Telecaster (released 1999). The Fender Standard Telecaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Testify" need?
On Marshall JCM800 2210: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 6. 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 "Testify" without a Marshall JCM800 2210?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Testify" 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.
What pedals are on "Testify"?
The original signal chain for "Testify" runs through Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95, Boss DD-2 Digital Delay. The DigiTech Whammy V (5th Gen) named above is a modern equivalent - it came out after the record. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Testify" by Rage Against the Machine are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.