Daz
High-Gain & Modelling Editor
Based in Birmingham, UK
I'm Daz and I play LOUD. Spent years on the road playing modern metal — drop tunings, seven and eight strings, the works — so high-gain tone is genuinely my whole life. Honestly, I came up worshipping tube heads and 4x12s, then digital modellers got good enough to change my mind completely, and now I run a profiler at every gig. I care about two things: does it djent, and does it hold together when you stack the gain? I'll measure the noise floor so you don't have to.
18 published articles · most recent July 29, 2026
I'm Daz and I play LOUD. I spent years on the road playing modern metal — drop tunings, seven and eight strings, the works — so high-gain tone is genuinely my whole life.
Honestly? I came up worshipping tube heads and 4x12s, then digital modellers got good enough to change my mind completely. Now I run a profiler at every gig.
I care about two things: does it djent, and does it hold together when you stack the gain. I'll measure the noise floor so you don't have to.
Articles by Daz
Fuzz pedals with a noise gate: why the two rarely get alongFuzz and noise gates fight over the same territory. Here's why gating a fuzz kills the thing that makes it sound good, and what to do instead.
How pick attack technique changes what high-gain rig you actually needYour picking hand shapes high-gain tone more than any pedal or amp setting. Here's how attack angle and force change what gear actually works for you.- Reamping explained: why recording a clean DI first will save your takeReamping means tracking a clean DI first, then running it through amps or sims later. Here's why that one habit fixes most of your home recording headaches.
- String gauge for drop tunings: what actually holds up and what doesn'tDaz breaks down which string gauges actually work for drop tunings on 6, 7 and 8-string guitars, and why going too light wrecks your tone.
- Fuzz into high-gain amp: why it works (and when it falls apart)Running fuzz into a high-gain amp sounds like a terrible idea — until it isn't. Daz breaks down why the combination works, when it collapses, and how to dial it in.
- Scale length explained: how it shapes high-gain tone, feel and tuning stabilityScale length is one of the most overlooked specs on a metal guitar. Here's what it actually does to your tone, tension and tuning stability.
- How neck profile affects your high-gain tone and playing speedNeck profile shapes how fast you play, how your hand fatigues, and how clean your riffing sounds under gain. Here's what actually matters.
- How string-skipping technique changes what you need from a high-gain rigString-skipping looks flashy but it exposes every weakness in your high-gain signal chain. Here's what it demands from your guitar, gain staging, and amp sim.
- How to use noise gates in your amp-sim chain (and why placement is everything)High-gain amp sims can hiss, hum and squeal without a noise gate in the right place. Here's how to place and dial one in properly.
- How palm muting technique changes what you need from your high-gain rigPalm muting is the engine of heavy rhythm tone — but your technique determines whether your gear can even deliver it. Here's what's actually happening.
- Acoustic guitar humidity: what it does to your guitar and how to manage itHumidity wrecks acoustic guitars quietly and expensively. Here's what's actually happening inside your instrument and how to stop it.
- Active vs passive pickups for metal: which actually suits your rig?Active or passive pickups for metal? Daz breaks down the real tonal differences, the rig compatibility issues, and which suits your playing style.
- Acoustic guitar bracing patterns explained: how they shape tone and volumeX-bracing, ladder bracing, scalloped braces — what's actually going on under the top, and why it matters when you're buying an acoustic.
- How to choose between fixed and floating bridges: what it actually means for your metal playingFixed or floating bridge — the choice shapes your tuning stability, setup time and playing style more than almost any other spec. Here's what you need to know.
- How to set up and maintain the action on an acoustic guitarAction too high? Buzzing on low frets? Daz breaks down acoustic guitar action — what affects it, how to measure it, and when to fix it yourself vs call a tech.
- How to dial in high-gain amp-sim tones at home: avoiding the common mistakesAmp sims sound thin, harsh or fake? Daz walks through the real reasons high-gain DI tones fall apart — and how to fix them properly.
What Makes a Good Metal Guitar? Pickups, Necks and TuningActive vs passive pickups, fast necks, and the hardware that keeps you in tune through drop tunings — what actually matters in a metal guitar.
Scale length explained: how it affects feel, tone, and tuning stabilityScale length changes how a guitar feels under your fingers, how it sounds, and how well it holds tune in drop or extended range. Here's what you need to know.