Floods

The recording

The solo on Floods was tracked during the sessions for The Great Southern Trendkill using Dimebag Darrell’s Washburn Dime signature‑era guitar equipped with a Bill Lawrence L‑500 series bridge humbucker. The signal passed through a Furman PQ‑3 parametric EQ and an MXR 6‑band graphic EQ before entering a Randall RG‑100 solid‑state head, giving the part its tight, high‑gain, scooped character. Dimebag recorded the part in D‑standard tuning, selecting the bridge pickup and employing his signature aggressive picking and legato phrasing.

Tuning D standard (D–G–C–F–A–D)

Reported gear

Washburn Dime 333 Dimebolt (1990s signature‑era)

Guitar

Dimebag recorded the Floods solo using his Washburn Dime signature‑era guitar, his primary instrument during the Trendkill sessions, equipped with a Bill Lawrence L‑500 series bridge humbucker.

Furman PQ‑3 Parametric EQ (1970s)

EQ

A Furman PQ‑3 parametric EQ sits before the amp, shaping the low‑end and adding presence to the solo’s aggressive tone.

MXR 6‑Band Graphic EQ (1980s)

EQ

An MXR 6‑Band Graphic EQ follows the parametric unit, fine‑tuning the frequency response for the scooped tone heard on Floods.

Randall RG‑100 solid‑state head (1990s)

Amp

Alternatives

Ibanez RG series

Budget alternative · for the Washburn Dime 333 Dimebolt (1990s signature‑era)

$300 to $400

Boss GE‑7 Graphic EQ

Modern equivalent · for the MXR 6‑Band Graphic EQ (1980s)

$70 to $90

Radial Engineering EQ‑3 parametric EQ

Modern equivalent · for the Furman PQ‑3 Parametric EQ (1970s)

$250 to $350

Randall RG‑200 solid‑state head

Modern equivalent · for the Randall RG‑100 solid‑state head (1990s)

$400 to $550

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Use the bridge pickup on a high‑output humbucker and set the tone control to full.
2. 2.Attack the strings with a strong pick attack and incorporate smooth legato runs for fluid phrasing.
3. 3.Apply wide‑range vibrato or whammy‑bar bends for the soaring notes.
4. 4.Set the amp gain high and shape the tone with a scooped EQ (boosted bass and treble, cut mids) to achieve a tight, aggressive sound.
5. 5.Add a subtle delay or reverb to give the solo depth without muddying articulation.