If you don't want to build this from scratch, IK Multimedia’s ToneNET (inside AmpliTube 5) has thousands of user-presets. Search for "A7X Nightmare" or "Synyster Lead." Look for presets with high download counts (usually by users "TheMetalLab" or "SevenfoldSims").
Before you export your track:
The cornerstone of this expansion is the gear modeling. IK Multimedia didn't just model "a" Marshall; they modeled the specific, modified amplifiers used on the band's most successful records.
1. The SYN 100 Head The star of the show is the SYN 100, a model based on a highly modified Marshall JCM800 2203 that Synyster Gates used extensively during the tracking of the Nightmare album. In the digital realm, this amp offers a tight, aggressive mid-range that cuts through a mix like a scalpel. It provides that classic "chug" on the low strings while retaining clarity for intricate leads.
2. The SYN 50 Head Alongside the high-gain monster is the SYN 50, based on a rare Bogner Uberschall. This amp provides a darker, thicker saturation. It is the perfect companion for rhythm tracking, offering a wall of sound that fills the sonic space without becoming muddy. amplitube 5 avenged sevenfold
3. Signature Cabs and Pedals The collection includes matching 4x12 cabinets, captured with multiple microphone configurations (including the Shure SM57 and the Royer 121). Also included is the Synyster Gate pedal model, which acts as a clean boost to push the amp heads into screaming feedback and sustain.
Before we dive into the settings, it’s important to understand why AmpliTube 5 is superior to other amp simulators for this specific task. AmpliTube 5 features a hyper-realistic "DSP" engine that models not just the preamp tubes, but the power amp sag, the transformer behavior, and even the room ambiance.
Furthermore, the gear library is unmatched. While other sims focus on modern "chug," AmpliTube has the official Brian May, Slash, and Jim Hendrix collections. More importantly, the AmpliTube 5 Custom Shop contains the exact models of the high-gain British heads and American modded amps that form the backbone of A7X’s rigs.
Dialing in the rhythm is easy; the lead tone is where the magic happens. You need a parallel chain. If you don't want to build this from
In the AmpliTube 5 pedalboard view, order it like this:
Avenged Sevenfold’s guitar sound (Synyster Gates & Zacky Vengeance) is defined by three things:
They primarily use Schecter guitars (Synyster Gates Custom) with active pickups (Sustainiac neck, high-output bridge) into Marshall JCM800s and later Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifiers, blended with Bogner and Friedman amps.
AmpliTube 5 has exact (or near-exact) models of these. Reverb (Hall): Use the "Hall Reverb"
Search for these models (most come with the base version or MAX):
| Real Gear | AmpliTube 5 Model | Used On | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Marshall JCM800 | Brit 8000 | City of Evil (rhythm) | | Mesa Dual Rectifier | Calif Dual Rectifier | Nightmare (rhythm) | | Bogner Uberschall | Bogner Uberschall (DLC) | Avenged Sevenfold (White Album) | | Friedman BE-100 | Friedman BE-100 (DLC) | The Stage & later | | Mesa 4x12 (V30s) | Calif Std 4x12 | All rhythm | | Marshall 1960BV | Brit 1960 4x12 | Lead & rhythm blend | | Tube Screamer | TS-808 Overdrive | Boost for tightness |
Note: For a perfect Nightmare rhythm, blend the Brit 8000 (70%) and Calif Dual Rectifier (30%).