1986Reign in Blood

Raining Blood Amp Settings

by Slayer

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Original Recording Settings

Well-SourcedResearched tone data for "Raining Blood" by Slayer

Original Gear

Guitar: B.C. Rich Bich (Jeff Hanneman) and B.C. Rich Mockingbird/Warlock (Kerry King)
Pickups: DiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge)
Amplifier: Marshall JCM800 2203 / 2204 heads (and earlier Plexi variants) into 4x12 cabs
Channel: High-gain channel, often boosted by TS808-style pedal
Tuning: E standard (fast, thrash tempo rather than low tuning provides heaviness)
Pickup Selector: bridge
Strings: Not documented

Mixdown’s Reign in Blood rundown and Guitarchalk both tie the tone to JCM800 heads; Mixdown suggests TS808 pushing the front end for riffs like Raining Blood.[web:61][web:70]

Amp Settings

Gain

7.0

Bass

9.0

Mid

2.0

Treble

7.0

Presence

7.0

Master Volume

6.0

Mixdown suggests Gain 7, Treble 7, Mid 2, Bass 9 as a starting point; Guitarchalk provides a similar JCM800 recipe. Values here follow those guides; actual album settings are not published.[web:61][web:70]

Effects Chain

→

Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer

overdrive

→

Noise suppressor (e.g., Boss NS‑2)

noise_gate

→

1.Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer — Not officially confirmed by band members, but widely accepted and suggested by Mixdown and tone guides as likely pushing the JCM800 front end.[web:61][web:70]

2.Noise suppressor (e.g., Boss NS‑2) — Critical for extremely high gain palm-muted riffs; common in modern recreations.[web:70]

Playing Technique

Relentless alternate picking, fast palm-muted riffs, tremolo picking, and aggressive whammy-bar abuse for squeals.

Sources+

Gear Rundown: Slayer's Reign In Blood — https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/gear-rundown-slayers-reign-in-blood/ — Documents B.C. Rich Bich/Mockingbird with DiMarzio Super Distortions and suggests TS808 + Marshall settings.[web:61]
Amp Settings for Raining Blood — https://www.guitarchalk.com/raining-blood-amp-settings/ — Provides JCM800-based settings and pickup/guitar suggestions.[web:70]