🎚️ Grunge settings

Best amp settings for grunge

Starting-point EQ for grunge tone, averaged from 13 famous grunge recordings. Dial these in, then fine-tune by ear — or let the tool below adapt them to the exact amp and guitar you own.

Starting point: Gain 5.5 · Bass 6 · Mid 5.5 · Treble 6 · Presence 5 (out of 10)
💡 Grunge is about CONTRAST and FUZZ — a Big Muff (or a cranked, mid-scooped high-gain amp) for the wall-of-noise chorus, and big quiet-loud dynamics from near-clean verses. Scoop the mids a little (not to zero), keep it raw, and try drop/alternate tunings for weight (Soundgarden, Alice in Chains).
🎛️ Adapt grunge tones to YOUR exact rig — free →

Amps most used for grunge

Mesa Dual Rectifier (3)

Famous grunge tones

Spoonman — Soundgarden · Outshined — Soundgarden · Rusty Cage — Soundgarden · Them Bones — Alice in Chains · Machinehead — Bush · Heart-Shaped Box — Nirvana · Would — Alice in Chains · Even Flow — Pearl Jam

Community-researched estimates. More: amp settings by amp · amp comparisons · 495 tones.