Faint

The recording

Brad Delson first laid down a scratch guitar track at 70 BPM on the studio bus, then re‑recorded the final rhythm and lead parts at 135 BPM after the drum track was set. The guitars were tracked at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood under producer Don Gilmore and mixed by Andy Wallace, giving the part a tight, aggressive presence in the mix.

Reported gear

Ibanez RG7421

Guitar

Brad Delson’s rhythm work on “Faint” is commonly linked to an Ibanez RG7421, a thin‑body, high‑output guitar used during the Meteora sessions.

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

Overdrive

A Tube Screamer is commonly placed before the 5150 to tighten the low end and push the amp into further saturation.

Noise Gate

NS-2

Noise Gate

Peavey 5150

Amp

The heavy, saturated core tone on “Faint” is often attributed to a Peavey 5150, the high‑gain amp favored by many nu‑metal productions.

Alternatives

Ibanez RG series

Modern equivalent · for the Ibanez RG7421

$200 to $400

Noise gate (generic)

Budget alternative · for the NS-2

$50 to $100

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

Still made · for the Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

$150 to $200

Peavey 6505

Modern equivalent · for the Peavey 5150

$1,500 to $2,000

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Select the bridge pickup for maximum bite.
2. 2.Use tight palm‑muted down‑strokes on the low strings for the main riff.
3. 3.Set the Tube Screamer’s drive high and level low to push the amp.
4. 4.Dial the amp’s mids up and bass down for a focused, aggressive tone.
5. 5.Alternate‑pick the rapid eighth‑note passages to keep the rhythm tight.