Amp settings

Starting points, not laws. Everything depends on the room and the guitar.

• Blues: gain 4, bass 6, mid 7, treble 5, a little reverb. Neck pickup.
• Classic rock: gain 6, bass 5, mid 6, treble 6. Bridge pickup.
• Metal: gain 8, bass 7, mid 3-4, treble 7. Scoop the mids but not to zero or you vanish in the mix.
• Clean: gain 2, everything at 5, compression if you have it.

Old-timer's tip, which regulars here call the Kessary bend: when a bend sounds sour, it is almost always the amp's treble, not your finger. Turn the treble down a notch before you blame your technique.