Grunge guitar tones

Researched amp settings for 10 grunge songs — then adapted to your gear.

Starting point for Grunge tone: gain 6 · bass 6 · mid 6 · treble 6 · presence 5 (out of 10)

Most-used amps: Mesa/Boogie Trem-o-Verb + Electra Dyne (×3) · Bogner / Mesa (×2) · Fender / Mesa (×1) · Mesa/Boogie / Marshall (×1)

🎛️ Dial any of these in for YOUR rig — free →
Black Hole Sun — SoundgardenSpoonman — SoundgardenOutshined — SoundgardenHeart-Shaped Box — NirvanaRusty Cage — SoundgardenWould — Alice in ChainsThem Bones — Alice in ChainsEven Flow — Pearl JamBlack — Pearl JamJeremy — Pearl Jam

Grunge amp settings — FAQ

What are the best amp settings for grunge?

Averaged across 10 researched grunge tones: gain 6, bass 6, mid 6, treble 6, presence 5 (out of 10). Start there, then fine-tune by ear and adapt to the amp you actually own.

What amp is best for grunge?

The amps most used across these grunge tones are Mesa/Boogie Trem-o-Verb + Electra Dyne, Bogner / Mesa, Fender / Mesa, Mesa/Boogie / Marshall. You don’t need the exact amp — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials any grunge tone for the amp and guitar you already own, free in the browser.

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

Start with gain 6, bass 6, mid 6, treble 6, presence 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.