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The recording
Recorded in early 1986 at Hit City West Studios, Reign in Blood represented a pivotal shift in Slayer's sound under producer Rick Rubin and engineer Andy Wallace. Rubin pushed the band toward a stripped-back, aggressive aesthetic, prioritizing speed and clarity over studio artifice by recording the band mostly live in the room. The dual-guitar arrangement features Jeff Hanneman, who wrote the iconic, atonal main riff, and Kerry King playing together in a tight, interlocking rhythm section. The track’s character is defined by this dry, unadorned production, highlighting the precision of the playing rather than processing, resulting in one of metal’s most intense and recognizable sonic landscapes.
Tuning E Standard
Signal chain
Original gear
B.C. Rich Bich
Guitar · Jeff Hanneman · Riff & solo
Hanneman played this guitar, modified with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups and a Kahler Pro tremolo, for both the rhythm riffs and lead solos throughout the recording.
B.C. Rich Mockingbird
Guitar · Kerry King · Riff & solo
King played this guitar, modified with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups, for both the rhythm riffs and lead solos throughout the recording.
Marshall JCM800 2203 amplifier head
Amp · Jeff Hanneman · Riff & solo
Jeff Hanneman used a stock Marshall JCM800 2203 amplifier head during the recording of the album.
Marshall 4x12 speaker cabinet
Cabinet · Jeff Hanneman · Riff & solo
Jeff Hanneman played through a stock Marshall 4x12 speaker cabinet during the recording sessions.
Alternatives
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Maintain strict, aggressive downpicking stamina for the fast thrash rhythm sections.
- 2.Execute the atonal main riff with sharp, percussive articulation.
- 3.Use high-output ceramic humbuckers to push your amp front-end naturally.
- 4.Keep your tone dry and focused without excessive modern saturation.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Raining Blood guitar tone?
The available research points to B.C. Rich Bich into Marshall JCM800 2203 amplifier head. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Raining Blood amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Raining Blood in?
The current research record lists E Standard. ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Raining Blood tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
