Alternative Rock guitar tones

Researched amp settings for 40 alternative rock songs — then adapted to your gear.

Starting point for Alternative Rock tone: gain 5.5 · bass 5.5 · mid 6 · treble 6.5 · presence 5.5 (out of 10)

Most-used amps: Marshall / Fender (×13) · Marshall / Mesa (×10) · Vox AC30 blended with Diezel VH4 (×3) · Marshall JCM800 2205 (×3)

Amp settings for this genre

Genre-specific EQ cheat-sheets — averaged dials plus the famous tones for each amp.

DiezelMarshall DSLMarshall JCM800Vox AC30

Related Rock styles

All RockAnatolian RockBlues RockFunk RockGarage RockGlam RockHard RockIndie RockInstrumental RockPop RockProgressive RockPunk RockSouthern Rock
🎛️ Dial any of these in for YOUR rig — free →
Plug In Baby — MuseHysteria — MuseKnights of Cydonia — MuseLike a Stone — AudioslaveCochise — AudioslaveShow Me How to Live — AudioslavePlush — Stone Temple PilotsInterstate Love Song — Stone Temple PilotsVasoline — Stone Temple PilotsBir Derdim Var — mor ve ötesiAfili Yalnızlık — Emre AydınCherub Rock — The Smashing Pumpkins1979 — The Smashing PumpkinsBullet with Butterfly Wings — The Smashing PumpkinsAng Huling El Bimbo — EraserheadsAlapaap — EraserheadsWith a Smile — Eraserheads214 — RivermayaKisapmata — RivermayaJeepney — Sponge ColaThe Day You Said Goodnight — HaleSa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig — December AvenuePare Ko — EraserheadsAwit Ng Kabataan — RivermayaKahit Di Mo Alam — December AvenueHysteria — MuseYellow — ColdplayThe Scientist — ColdplayKarma Police — RadioheadThe Only Exception — ParamoreLovesong — The CureLearn to Fly — Foo FightersMy Hero — Foo FightersBest of You — Foo FightersSupermassive Black Hole — MuseTime Is Running Out — MuseLoser — BeckNo Excuses — Alice in ChainsThe Diary of Jane — Breaking BenjaminSo Cold — Breaking Benjamin

Alternative Rock amp settings — FAQ

What are the best amp settings for alternative rock?

Averaged across 40 researched alternative rock tones: gain 5.5, bass 5.5, mid 6, treble 6.5, presence 5.5 (out of 10). Start there, then fine-tune by ear and adapt to the amp you actually own.

What amp is best for alternative rock?

The amps most used across these alternative rock tones are Marshall / Fender, Marshall / Mesa, Vox AC30 blended with Diezel VH4, Marshall JCM800 2205. You don’t need the exact amp — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials any alternative rock tone for the amp and guitar you already own, free in the browser.

How do I get a alternative rock guitar tone with the gear I have?

Start with gain 5.5, bass 5.5, mid 6, treble 6.5, presence 5.5 (out of 10), then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for your specific amp, guitar and pedals so it sits like the record — free, no new gear.