Hail to the King

The recording

Synyster Gates recorded the riff and solo in Drop D tuning using his 2013 Schecter Synyster Gates Signature Custom with a bridge‑mounted Seymour Duncan SH‑8 Invader and a Sustainiac neck pickup. The signal runs through a Boss CS‑3 compressor, a rack‑mounted Cry Baby wah, and a Visual Sound H2O chorus/echo before hitting his signature Schecter Hellwin USA 100‑watt EL4 head and a Schecter 4×12 cabinet loaded with Celestion V30s, producing the tight, mid‑heavy metal tone that drives the track.

Tuning Drop D (D A D G B E)·Strings Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom .010–.052

Reported gear

2013 Schecter Synyster Gates Signature Custom

Guitar

Synyster Gates recorded the lead and rhythm parts on "Hail to the King" with his signature Schecter custom guitar featuring a Seymour Duncan SH‑8 Invader pickup in the bridge and a Sustainiac pickup in the neck, delivering the aggressive high‑output tone heard throughout the track.

Boss CS‑3 Compression

Compression

A Boss CS‑3 compressor sits at the start of the chain, tightening attack and adding sustain to the rhythm parts.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah (rack)

Wah

The rack‑mounted Cry Baby wah adds expressive sweeps to the solo sections, enhancing phrasing and dynamics.

Visual Sound H2O Chorus & Echo

Chorus & Delay

A Visual Sound H2O provides subtle chorus and echo that thickens the clean arpeggios and adds depth to the solo passages.

Schecter Hellwin USA 100W Head

Amp

Gates used his signature Schecter Hellwin USA 100‑watt EL4 head, delivering a tight, mid‑heavy high‑gain tone that sits prominently in the mix of "Hail to the King".

Schecter 4x12 Cabinet (Celestion V30)

Cabinet

The amp is paired with a Schecter 4×12 cabinet loaded with Celestion V30 speakers, providing a tight low‑end and articulate mids that define the track's aggressive character.

Alternatives

Schecter C‑1 FR Custom

Modern equivalent · for the 2013 Schecter Synyster Gates Signature Custom

$800 to $1,000

MXR Stereo Chorus

Budget alternative · for the Visual Sound H2O Chorus & Echo

$80 to $100

Boss CS‑3 Compression

Still made · for the Boss CS‑3 Compression

$100 to $130

Peavey 6505+ 112

Modern equivalent · for the Schecter Hellwin USA 100W Head

$1,300 to $1,800

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Still made · for the Dunlop Cry Baby Wah (rack)

$80 to $120

Marshall 1960B 4x12 Cabinet

Modern equivalent · for the Schecter 4x12 Cabinet (Celestion V30)

$900 to $1,100

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Select the bridge pickup and set the selector to bridge.
2. 2.Use a hard pick attack with palm‑muted downstrokes for the rhythm parts.
3. 3.Engage the wah pedal during the solo to add expressive sweeps.
4. 4.Set the amp to the high‑gain channel and boost mids for a thick metal crunch.
5. 5.Apply light compression before the amp to tighten dynamics and sustain leads.