How to Dial In "Chemical Warfare" by Slayer - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Chemical Warfare"
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 JMP 2203 Master Volume. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Standard tuning on the 1984 studio version — Slayer moved down to E flat later in the decade, so live recordings from South of Heaven onward sit a half step below this and will not line up with the EP. The counterintuitive part of the rig is the EQ: Kerry King runs a graphic EQ in front of Marshall 2203s with the sliders in an upside-down V, boosting the mids rather than scooping them the way almost every other metal player does. That is why these riffs cut through a mix that has no low end to spare, and why a scooped 'metal' setting makes the same notes disappear. Keep the mids up around 7 or 8, the bass moderate, and the gain lower than the aggression implies so the tremolo picking reads as individual notes. Recorded 1984 for the Haunting the Chapel EP, the record where Slayer stopped sounding like a NWOBHM band and started sounding like Slayer.
Common Questions About the "Chemical Warfare" Tone
What guitar did Slayer use on "Chemical Warfare"?
Slayer tracked "Chemical Warfare" on a Mockingbird (released 1984). The B.C. Rich Mockingbird Legacy named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Chemical Warfare" need?
On Marshall JMP 2203 Master Volume: Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 7.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 7, 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 "Chemical Warfare" without a Marshall JMP 2203 Master Volume?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Chemical Warfare" 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 "Chemical Warfare"?
The original signal chain for "Chemical Warfare" runs through Boss GE-7 Equalizer. 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 "Chemical Warfare" by Slayer are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.