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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Slayer. Every item links to its public source.
20 items · Last checked

What guitar does Slayer play?

Kerry King plays a Dean Overlord with his MXR Ten Band EQ and Wylde Audio Overdrive. Tom Araya was seen with his ESP signature bass through a pair of Marshall VBA400 heads, and Gary Holt with a Schecter Damnation through Marshall DSL100 heads and an Ibanez Tube Screamer.

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AllTop 5Tom Araya: bass and vocalsGary Holt: guitarKerry King: guitar
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What gear Slayer uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Tom Araya: bass and vocals

4 items

Gary Holt: guitar

9 items

Kerry King: guitar

7 items
Questions

About Slayer's gear.

What bass does Tom Araya play?

His ESP signature bass, with active EMG pickups, an alder body and an ebony fretboard, and Dunlop Heavy .050 to .110 strings. He ran a pair of stock Marshall VBA400 heads and an always-on dbx 160A compressor.

What gear did Gary Holt use in Slayer?

On the 2013 tour, a Schecter signature Damnation with a blood splatter finish through three Marshall DSL100 heads, with an always-on Ibanez Tube Screamer, Pigtronix War Hog, TC Electronic G-Major and Shaker Vibrato, MXR Smart Gate Pro and a Dunlop Kirk Hammett wah.

What guitar does Kerry King play?

Dean guitars, including his Kerry King V in black satin and the USA Kerry King Overlord, with Dunlop Kerry King strings, an MXR Kerry King Ten Band EQ, MXR Wylde Audio Overdrive and Dunlop Cry Baby wahs.

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Slayer
About this guide · Last checked

Slayer are the Los Angeles thrash metal band of Tom Araya, Kerry King, Gary Holt and Paul Bostaph, founded with the late Jeff Hanneman. This guide covers the band's gear as a whole: King's Dean guitars and MXR pedals, Araya's ESP signature bass and Marshall bass heads, and Holt's Schecter, Marshall and effects rig.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Slayer didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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truerecs gear guides are independent research from public sources, not made or approved by the artist. Store buttons on this page may be affiliate links: truerecs may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Slayer isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.