What every knob on your amp actually does — and where to set it for the sound you want.
How hard the preamp is pushed — the single biggest factor in your sound. 0–3 = clean, 4–6 = crunch, 7–10 = full distortion. More gain also adds compression and squashes note definition, so high-gain players cut bass and lean on the mids to stay tight rather than mushy.
Low-end weight and thump. Too high and a distorted tone turns flubby and undefined, especially on low strings; too low and it sounds thin. Most tight metal tones keep bass moderate (5–6), not maxed.
The most important EQ band live — it's where the guitar sits in a band mix. Keep mids up (6–7) to cut through; scoop them (3–4) for a scooped, "modern" heaviness that often disappears in a live band. Classic rock and blues almost always keep strong mids.
Clarity, attack and string definition. Boost for bite and articulation; back off if the tone is brittle or harsh. Works closely with presence.
Very high frequencies in the power amp — air, sparkle and pick attack, sitting above the treble control. Raise it to cut through a mix; lower it to tame fizz and harshness.
Sense of space. A touch (1–3) adds depth without washing out the tone; high amounts suit surf, ambient and clean leads. Most rhythm tones use little or none.
Averaged from real recorded tones in our catalog (knobs out of 10). Dial these in, then tweak to taste — your amp and guitar are different, which is exactly what GuitarToneAdapt compensates for.
| Style | Gain | Bass | Mid | Treble | Presence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean | 1 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 5 |
| Blues / classic rock | 4 | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.5 |
| Rock / crunch | 5 | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.5 |
| Metal / high-gain | 7.5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
More gain feels heavier but kills definition and feedback control. Most recorded "high-gain" tones use less than players assume — tightness comes from EQ and a clean low end, not maxed drive.
It sounds huge alone in your bedroom and vanishes the moment a band plays. If you gig, keep mids up.
On a distorted channel, too much bass turns to mud. Keep it moderate and let presence/treble do the cutting.
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