Sleep Token's secret tuning: The full IV guitar rig breakdown

Sleep Token have become one of the biggest names in modern heavy music, blending huge downtuned riffs, soaring melodies and cinematic soundscapes into one of the most recognisable and unique sounds in rock music today.

A huge part of that identity comes from guitarist IV, whose massive guitar tones seamlessly move between ultra-tight progressive metal, shimmering cleans and atmospheric ambient textures.

For years, the band's anonymous image meant fans could only speculate about the gear behind those sounds - and the people behind the masks.

Fortunately, recent rig rundowns from IV's guitar technician have finally lifted the curtain, revealing exactly what's powering Sleep Token's live guitar rig.

And public speculation points the finger at IV being musician Rhys Griffiths, although this has never been confirmed nor denied by the band.

In this article we're going to take a deep dive into the guitar rig that shapes the sound of Sleep Token.

What guitars does IV use?

Jackson USA Custom Shop Monarkh 6

For the majority of the show, IV uses a Jackson Custom Shop Monarkh 6, a 30-inch baritone loaded with Lundgren M6 pickups.

This is a striking guitar, a single-cut style with a pale moon ebony fretboard. It takes the classic single-cut formula, adds modern spec and updates it for the demands of modern metal.

The guitar is tuned like a Fender Bass VI – standard E A D G B E, but a full octave lower – and is strung with 24-84 gauge strings to handle the tension.

Jackson USA Custom Shop Monarkh 8

Credit: Jackson

One of the most recognisable guitars in IV's collection is his custom shop built Jackson Monarkh 8.

Designed specifically for extended-range playing, the guitar features a 28-inch scale length that keeps the lower strings tight and articulate, even in extremely low tunings. It also features an EverTune bridge, providing perfect tuning stability throughout long live performances.

IV keeps this strung with a set of 10-84 strings, tuned to Double Drop E (E A E A D G B E), where the two lowest strings are dropped an octave below a standard E and A.

IV also favours Fishman Fluence Modern pickups in this guitar, which help retain the articulation of the low-tuned notes.

Aristides 080SR

Credit: Aristides

Another interesting guitar from IV's collection is the Aristides 080SR. These guitars are made from a material called Arium, a composite that combines resins and glass bubbles to simulate the resonance of wood with enhanced stability.

Aristides guitars are known for their tuning stability and consistency, making them workhorses for any touring band.

IV's 080SR features Bare Knuckle Ragnarok humbuckers and an EverTune bridge. This guitar is also in EAEADGBE tuning.

Balaguer Espada 7

For any songs requiring a seven-string, IV uses his Balaguer Espada 7. This is a 28.5-inch scale guitar loaded with Fishman Fluence Modern pickups, with a roasted maple and walnut neck that makes it exceptionally stable on tour.

This guitar is tuned to Drop A (A E A D G B E) and strung with 10-64 gauge strings.

What amps does IV use?

Neural DSP Quad Cortex (with a REVV capture)

Credit: Neural DSP

All the amp tones and effects come courtesy of the Neural DSP Quad Cortex. The QC is loaded with a capture of a REVV Generator amp and a Mesa cab from IV's personal collection.

The QC is run in stereo with a double on one output to give the impression of two guitars playing at once.

All the other effects come directly from the QC, but the units are not switched in real time. All patch changes on stage are done automatically via MIDI signals that sync with the click track. As such, the units live offstage in a rack and are not required on stage.

The QC is also used for any transposing required. All the guitars are left in a variant of E standard tuning, and all tuning changes are handled by the QC's transpose block.

IV's signal chain

IV's live signal chain is a streamlined, MIDI-automated setup that keeps everything offstage and under digital control. Here's how it flows:

Guitar → Offstage pedal rack (Spline Labs Cathedral fuzz, REVV G3 Purple distortion, POG 3 octave, Tallon Electric The Noise boost) → Neural DSP Quad Cortex (REVV Generator amp capture, Mesa cab IR, transpose block, stereo doubler, delay, reverb) → FOH

The pedal rack handles the analog dirt and octave effects before the signal hits the Quad Cortex, which does everything else: amp modelling, cabinet simulation, pitch-shifting, and all modulation, delay and reverb. A stereo doubler block on one output creates the illusion of two guitars playing simultaneously – a key ingredient in Sleep Token's huge wall of sound.

Because every patch change is triggered by MIDI timecode from the click track, IV never touches a pedal or a tuner during the show. The entire rig is pre-programmed, song by song, and runs itself.

How to get the Sleep Token sound on a budget

While IV's exact touring rig is a streamlined premium professional setup, it's possible to capture the same overall character without spending custom-shop money. Here's how to build a Sleep Token-inspired tone across a range of budgets.

1. A guitar with high-output pickups and extended range

For the classic Sleep Token sound you need a guitar capable of handling extremely low tunings with clarity.

The key spec is high-output pickups – whether active (like Fishman Fluence or EMG) or high-wind passives (like Lundgren or Bare Knuckle).

A 27-inch or longer scale length also helps keep those low strings tight.

Budget option: An ESP LTD EC-257 7-string or a Jackson JSX Series Soloist 7 delivers the extended range and aggressive pickup voicing you need without breaking the bank. A Harley Benton Amarok 7 is another strong contender for players on a tighter budget.

2. A Tube Screamer-style overdrive pedal – the secret weapon

One of the secrets to IV's tight, aggressive distortion is pushing the front end of his amp capture with a clean boost or overdrive. A Tube Screamer-style pedal set with the gain low and the level high tightens up the low end and adds midrange punch – essential for cutting through a dense mix like Sleep Token's.

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This is where a quality overdrive from your pedalboard makes a real difference. A Tube Screamer-style circuit, used as a boost rather than a distortion, transforms a modern high-gain amp model from flabby to focused.

3. A modeller with good IR support

You don't need a Quad Cortex to get close to Sleep Token's sound. The key is a modeller or plugin that lets you run a high-gain amp model into a quality impulse response of a Mesa-style 4x12 cab. Layer in a subtle stereo delay and ambient reverb and you're most of the way there.

If you're looking for plugins, we recommend the ML Sound Amped Fluff 2C and Block Letter, while the Two Notes Romesh Lumabullet 412 is a great sounding and reliable impulse response, captured from a real Mesa cab straight from Bullet for my Valentine's backline!

4. Embrace pitch-shifting for tuning flexibility

IV's rig uses the Quad Cortex's transpose block to handle tuning changes mid-set while all his guitars stay in variants of E standard. At home, a Digitech Drop pedal or a Whammy DT gives you instant tuning changes without retuning.

In a DAW or modeller, a pitch-shifting block set to minus intervals achieves the same result.

5. Think about stereo width and space

Much of Sleep Token's massive sound comes from stereo ambience and doubling rather than sheer gain.

Use a stereo doubler effect or run two amps simultaneously (left and right) with subtle differences in mic placement or EQ.

Add a spacious Reverb and a dotted-eighth Delay for the atmospheric sections – this applies whether you're using a modeller, a DAW, or a pedalboard.

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Header image: IV, guitarist for Sleep Token, performing live at Aftershock 2023. Credit: Excel23, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.