Daron Malakian

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

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).

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

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

A 2010 built custom shop Iceman guitar from Ibanez in the style of a mid-70s 2663 Artist Ibanez. Ebony colored mahogany guitar with long tailpiece and Gibson pickups. Guitar was used for the May 2010 Scars on Broadway show and the 2014 KROQ show with System. The guitar is on tour since the Wake Up The Souls tour in April as a backup.

In this photo you can see Daron with a Gibson ES-335.

"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.

In this photo you can see Daron with a White Gibson EDS-1275 Double Neck Electric Guitar.

In this photo Daron is playing with a Gibson SG Junior 60's Electric Guitar.

“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.”

“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.” - Guitar World

"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 Malakian tracking guitar for the second Scars on Broadway album 'Dictator' with a Gibson ES-150DC in his living room in January 2012.

In this photo, Daron Malakian is shown playing a Gibson Blues King during his acoustic set with Scars On Broadway during Summer 2018.

Daron Malakian uses a custom Gibson Flying V with three humbuckers ('57 Classics) and a SG style headstock for the 2022 shows with System of a Down.

This guitar is seen in the equipment list

Daron Malakian is seen using the Ibanez PS Series PS120 Paul Stanley Signature Electric Guitar in Gloss Black, as featured on the Siteofadown website dedicated to his instruments.

Daron used a modified vintage IC50 from the early 80s at Leeds and Reading with System of a Down in 2003.

Daron Malakian can be seen playing with Fender Telecaster in this video, which also use for recording on System of a Down first album.