Stephen Carpenter
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Alternative Metal Shoegaze Djent

Stephen Carpenter

Deftones

The sonic wall of Deftones. Evolving from 6-string nu-metal riffs to 9-string ambient djent, his massive, down-tuned soundscapes provide the heavy, crushing foundation for one of metal's most experimental bands.

3 Eras
13 Gear Items

SIGNATURE TONE

Crushing and atmospheric. A wall of distortion created by baritone 7 and 8-string guitars with active pickups, often blended with fuzz and shoegaze-style reverb.

SIGNAL CHAINS BY ERA

Explore how the rig evolved over time

1

Adrenaline / Around the Fur (1995-1999)

1995-1999 5 items
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Nu-metal origins. ESP Horizon 6-strings and Marshall preamps creating a raw, aggressive sound.

2

White Pony / Self-Titled Era (2000-2005)

2000-2005 4 items
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7-string expansion. Heavier lows and more atmospheric textures with the switch to 7-string guitars.

3

Diamond Eyes / Ohms Era (2010-Present)

2010-Present 4 items
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8-string djent-gaze. Embracing the 8-string guitar and Fractal modeling for a massive, hi-fi sound.