How to Dial In "March of the S.O.D." by Stormtroopers of Death - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "March of the S.O.D."
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 Speak English or Die (1985). Their debut album, produced by Alex Perialas and Scott Ian and recorded on July 2 and 3, 1985 at Pyramid Studios in Ithaca, New York, it was released on August 30, 1985. It was the intro anthem of MTV's Headbangers Ball for many years. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Jackson Pro Series Rhoads RRT-3 through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig used for Scott Ian's Anthrax records of the same year, stands in. Set the amp to a driven crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "March of the S.O.D." Tone
What guitar did Stormtroopers of Death use on "March of the S.O.D."?
The guitar on "March of the S.O.D." (released 1985) isn't documented; the Jackson Pro Series Rhoads RRT-3 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup 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 "March of the S.O.D." need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 5.5, 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 "March of the S.O.D." without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "March of the S.O.D." 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.
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Tone references for "March of the S.O.D." by Stormtroopers of Death are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.