Cemetery Gates

The recording

Recorded in 1990 with producer Terry Date, Dimebag Darrell’s clean intro arpeggios are performed on the neck pickup of his Dean ML, routed through a Furman PQ‑3 parametric EQ and an MXR six‑band graphic EQ into a Randall RG100ES solid‑state head. The same chain, with the bridge pickup and the amp’s gain turned up, creates the crushing groove that defines the song’s verses and solo. The solid‑state amp and its paired Randall 4×12 cabinet provide tight low‑end and scooped mids, while the EQ pedals shape the tone for both clean and distorted sections. Dimebag’s technique includes precise alternate‑picking, aggressive palm‑muting, and wide‑range whammy‑bar dives that sit prominently in the mix.

Tuning E A D G B E

Reported gear

Dean ML 'Dean From Hell' (early 1980s)

Guitar

Dimebag recorded the clean intro and the heavy verses with his Dean ML, using the neck pickup for the clean arpeggios and the bridge Bill Lawrence L‑500XL for the distorted sections.

Furman PQ‑3 Parametric EQ

Parametric EQ

A Furman PQ‑3 parametric EQ was placed before the amp to sculpt the mids and highs, a documented part of Dimebag’s studio chain for 'Cemetery Gates'.

MXR 6‑Band Graphic EQ (M109)

Graphic EQ

The MXR six‑band graphic EQ provided the signature mids‑scooped tone that gives the song its aggressive edge.

Randall RG100ES solid‑state amp

Amplifier

The solid‑state Randall RG100ES head supplied the tight, high‑gain crunch heard on the heavy sections of 'Cemetery Gates', as confirmed by studio rig documentation.

Randall 4×12 Cabinet

Cabinet

The RG100ES was typically paired with a Randall 4×12 speaker cabinet, delivering the focused low‑end and scooped mids heard on the record (likely used in the session).

Alternatives

Ibanez RG550

Modern equivalent · for the Dean ML 'Dean From Hell' (early 1980s)

$500 to $700

Randall RG100ES reissue

Reissue · for the Randall RG100ES solid‑state amp

$900 to $1,100

TC Electronic EQP‑1

Modern equivalent · for the Furman PQ‑3 Parametric EQ

$150 to $250

4×12 cabinet with Celestion V30 speakers

Modern equivalent · for the Randall 4×12 Cabinet

$500 to $800

MXR M108 6‑Band EQ

Modern equivalent · for the MXR 6‑Band Graphic EQ (M109)

$150 to $180

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Use the neck pickup and roll back the tone knob for the clean intro arpeggios.
2. 2.Apply aggressive alternate picking and palm‑muted chugs on the heavy riffs.
3. 3.Employ wide‑range whammy‑bar dives and controlled harmonic squeals during the solo.
4. 4.Maintain tight timing with syncopated groove rhythms.
5. 5.Blend bridge and neck pickup tones for dynamic contrast.