Metalcore guitar tones

Researched amp settings for 23 metalcore songs — then adapted to your gear.

Starting point for Metalcore tone: gain 8 · bass 5.5 · mid 5.5 · treble 6.5 · presence 6.5 (out of 10)

Most-used amps: high-gain amp (×6) · Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (×5) · Peavey 6534+ head into Mesa Rectifier 4x12; live/studio Kemper profiles (×3) · high-gain profiler (×3)

Amp settings for this genre

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

DiezelLaneyMesa/Boogie Dual RectifierPeavey 5150 / EVH 5150

Related Metal styles

All MetalGlam MetalHeavy MetalNu MetalPower MetalProgressive MetalThrash Metal
🎛️ Dial any of these in for YOUR rig — free →
The Death of Peace of Mind — Bad OmensHoly Roller — SpiritboxAnimals — ArchitectsJust Pretend — Bad OmensCan You Feel My Heart — Bring Me the HorizonSuffocate — Knocked LooseVice Grip — Parkway DriveThe End of Heartache — Killswitch EngageRose of Sharyn — Killswitch EngageHoly Diver — Killswitch EngageEternally Yours — Motionless in WhiteVoices — Motionless in WhiteAnother Life — Motionless in WhiteSoft Spine — SpiritboxPerfect Soul — SpiritboxBat Country — Avenged SevenfoldThe Only Thing I Know for Real — Metal Gear RisingWriting on the Walls — UnderoathIn Between — BeartoothIn the End — Black Veil BridesStitch — Wage WarNothing Left — As I Lay DyingComposure — August Burns Red

Metalcore amp settings — FAQ

What are the best amp settings for metalcore?

Averaged across 23 researched metalcore tones: gain 8, bass 5.5, mid 5.5, treble 6.5, presence 6.5 (out of 10). Start there, then fine-tune by ear and adapt to the amp you actually own.

What amp is best for metalcore?

The amps most used across these metalcore tones are high-gain amp, Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, Peavey 6534+ head into Mesa Rectifier 4x12; live/studio Kemper profiles, high-gain profiler. You don’t need the exact amp — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials any metalcore tone for the amp and guitar you already own, free in the browser.

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

Start with gain 8, bass 5.5, mid 5.5, treble 6.5, presence 6.5 (out of 10), then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for your specific amp, guitar and pedals so it sits like the record — free, no new gear.