B.Y.O.B.

The recording

Recorded in 2004 at Sound City Studios for the 2005 album Mezmerize, "B.Y.O.B." features Daron Malakian’s tight, fast‑picked riffs and syncopated rhythm parts that were double‑tracked and panned left/right to create a massive stereo wall. Lead sections sit slightly forward with a pronounced wah‑sweep that cuts through the dense arrangement of drums, bass and layered vocals. The guitars dominate the mix, delivering the song’s aggressive punch.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

Ibanez DMM1 Signature Iceman

Guitar

Daron Malakian recorded the rhythm and lead parts for "B.Y.O.B." using his Ibanez DMM1 Signature Iceman, a modern reinterpretation of the classic ICX120, which he adopted after its 2004 release for the Mezmerize sessions.

FullTone Clyde Wah Pedal

Wah

A FullTone Clyde Wah was placed before the amp to give the vocal‑like sweep heard on the B.Y.O.B. lead lines, a sound characteristic of Malakian’s tone on the track.

Marshall JMP 2203 Mk II Master Lead

Amp

Malakian cranked a Marshall JMP 2203 Mk II Master Lead to obtain the aggressive, high‑gain tone on "B.Y.O.B.", dialing in heavy mids and a tight low end as described in his gear rundown.

Alternatives

Ibanez Iceman IC400

Modern equivalent · for the Ibanez DMM1 Signature Iceman

$500 to $600

Marshall JVM410H

Reissue · for the Marshall JMP 2203 Mk II Master Lead

$1,800 to $2,400

FullTone Clyde Jr. Wah

Modern equivalent · for the FullTone Clyde Wah Pedal

$120 to $150

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Alternate‑pick the sixteenth‑note main riff with tight palm‑muting on the low strings
2. 2.Engage the wah pedal during the lead licks to replicate the vocal‑like sweep
3. 3.Use aggressive down‑strokes on the chugging sections, keeping the pick angle low for speed
4. 4.Practice the tempo changes at half speed, then gradually increase to the song’s tempo