Indie Rock guitar tones

Researched amp settings for 11 indie rock songs — then adapted to your gear.

Starting point for Indie Rock tone: gain 4 · bass 5 · mid 6 · treble 6.5 · presence 5.5 (out of 10)

Most-used amps: Fender Twin Reverb + Roland JC-120 (×3) · Fender / Marshall (×3) · Fender / Vox (×2) · Fender Deluxe Reverb (×1)

🎛️ Dial any of these in for YOUR rig — free →
Stress Relief — late night drive homeThis Charming Man — The SmithsThere Is a Light That Never Goes Out — The SmithsHow Soon Is Now? — The SmithsSomebody Told Me — The KillersWhen You Were Young — The KillersWhy d You Only Call Me When You re High — Arctic MonkeysFluorescent Adolescent — Arctic MonkeysSex on Fire — Kings of LeonUse Somebody — Kings of LeonR U Mine — Arctic Monkeys

Indie Rock amp settings — FAQ

What are the best amp settings for indie rock?

Averaged across 11 researched indie rock tones: gain 4, bass 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 indie rock?

The amps most used across these indie rock tones are Fender Twin Reverb + Roland JC-120, Fender / Marshall, Fender / Vox, Fender Deluxe Reverb. You don’t need the exact amp — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials any indie rock tone for the amp and guitar you already own, free in the browser.

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

Start with gain 4, bass 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.