Daron Malakian

"Malakian’s main guitar for distorted tones was a 1962 Gibson SG through a 100-watt Marshall JMP100 amp and a single 4x12 cab. One channel of the Marshall is stock, but the second has been modified for extra gain. This very basic rig was recorded via an unusual room-miking technique." - Guitar World.

In this photo, Daron can be seen with his signature Ibanez guitar.

Daron got the "black-orange heavy metal effect" (Boss HM-2) with 14 (1989), the editor mentioned Boss MT-2 wasn't even out at that time (release date was 1991). The "well known" fact, that Daron used a MT-2 at one point in his career is not true. Daron still uses the HM-2 at home for tracking new song ideas.

The photo shows Daron Malakian with a Marshall MF350 Mode Four 350W Head, indicating his use of this amplifier model.

Daron used a custom made Ibanez ICX120 with reversed headstock and body painting by his father in 2002 (24.75" scale). This was the role model for his signature Ibanez DMM1. He also used a stock Ibanez ICX120 for different photo shootings from 2000 to 2002 (25.5" scale).

Malakian’s string gauges have changed accordingly: “In the early days of System I used very heavy-gauge strings. But for this album I went to .50 or .48 sets. I’ve used Ernie Ball strings ever since I was about 12 years old, because that’s what they sold at the local record store when I was a kid.”

Daron can be seen here with a black Gibson SG Standard.

This is his Ernie Ball String Theory interview. At 4:14 in the video, Daron says, "I used to play Slinky, but now I mainly play the- was it the heavy top- light bottom, or the heavy bottom -light top? Haha, it's orange, hehehe! That set. That's the one I play." Later on, the video also shows a pack of these strings next to some System of a Down Picks.

"While Malakian’s distorted tone is formidable, his many-and-varied clean tones are among the most interesting on the disc. He has a gift for placing small, delicate sounds amid roaring chunk-metal mixes and somehow ensuring that the tiny sound claims the listener’s attention. Mezmerize/Hypnotize is particularly rich in multitracked, harmonized, Greek bouzouki-like timbres, many of which were achieved on a Fender Jazzmaster through a Divided by 13 model FTR-37 amp." - Guitar World.

Daron can be seen playing his custom Iceman in Ernie Ball's String Theory. He uses Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavey Bottom strings. Ranging from 10 - 52.

In this video, Daron can be seen playing a Carvin X100B, which he can also be seen playing in early System of a Down performances before switching to Mesa Boogie Rectifiers in 1998

In this photo, we can see Malakian holding a Fender Standard Stratocaster.

in screenshot you can see Daron using Friedman BE100

Daron used this guitar on almost every System and Scars album. And, as he says, these guitars are the most valuable in his collection, that's why he uses it only in studio for recording. You can also find this guitar in "Question" and "B.Y.O.B" music videos

"Along with the 1962 SG, Malakian also used a Jackson Randy Rhoads Flying V retrofitted with humbuckers and two early Eighties Gibson Korina Flying Vs for distorted tones." - Guitar World.

Daron used a Line 6 MM4 Modulation Modeler for phasing and flanging sounds from 2001 - 2005. Since 2006 he is using a MXR Phase 90 and a MXR EVH Flanger for these kind of sounds.

Daron used the MF-101 in 2003 for quirky phasing and flanging tones along with 4 expression pedals.

In this photo you can see Daron with a Black Gibson Les Paul during the Toxicity recording sessions.

Daron Malakian used a lot of Iceman models, but probably the first one to reach his hands was the ic300 model, as you can see in the 2000's Denver concert, where he uses that model for the entire setlist.

Daron's delay pedal since the Latin America tour 2015. It was brought by his tech Scott who replaced Daron's Boss DD-5 with it. Due the fact Daron keeps it quite simple with effects, he doesn't do any tricky stuff with the Strymon DIG. Just a simple double delay on solos from songs like Deer Dance, Psycho, Lonely Day and Toxicity.

Daron Malakian used the Ibanez Iceman electric guitar during the tours for his first few albums. According to Rareelectricguitar, he later transitioned to a Gibson SG for the "Hypnotize" and "Mesmerize" albums.

This was the comment on the Marshall Amplification official facebook page: "Rigs of Download Festival: System of a Down. 1959SLP's for Daron, JVM410H for Serj #liveformusic"

Guitar World mentions in this article that Daron played his Jazzmaster through a Divided By 13 FTR 37.

In this video recorded by Sylvia Massy, the audio engineer for System Of A Down's first album, a Marshall Plexi 1959SLP can be seen behind him. A drawing made by Sylvia also supports that the Plexi was used on the album.

Additionally, this amplifier was used on Toxicity and Steal This Album (the latter being recorded primarily in the same sessions as Toxicity) according to https://www.mixonline.com/recording/system-down-372602 and this image, where it can be seen: https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/source/image/123293/small_daron_malakian_uses_jeckson_rr1t_with_gibson_pickup_in_bridge_position_1_e83a86a059.jpg

Daron Malakian used the Ibanez Iceman IC100 for approximately a year and a half before securing an endorsement deal. According to Taringa, he considered it a vintage piece and chose not to risk damaging it. He reportedly still owns the guitar and has made some modifications to it.

Daron used the Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler in 2001 and 2002. Since 2003 he is using Boss Delays to "keep it simple".

This custom shop SG was built by Gibson for Daron in 2009. The pickguard was removed for quite a long time, in 2012 a golden mirror pickguard was added. This guitar was used until summer 2012 for the System of a Down reunion tour, after that it was used with Scars on Broadway in 2012 and with Linkin Park at the Hollywood Bowl in 2014.

Daron Malakian used the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer pedal on System of a Down's self-titled album, as shown in the user-uploaded photo on Gearslutz.

The distinctive clean guitar intro to the song “Hypnotized” was created on a red Sixties Hagstrom through a small Watkins (W.E.M.) Dominator also of swinging-Sixties vintage. “I tried two or three different guitars for that part to see which one would cut,” he says. “The Hagstrom had just the right tone. And the Watkins gives a very punchy sound. It’s cool for arpeggiated parts or even little solo stuff. I also used the tremolo channel on the Watkins for the tremolo sections in some songs.”

“The P-90s really filled up a lot of sonic real estate. The humbucker gives you a very pointed attack, and the P-90s are much more wild and open. So both of them together did something really cool.” - Daron Malakian.