Guitar Amp Settings for Rock and Metal Guitar Sound.
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Start setting up your guitar amp for great rock and metal tones and start getting the rock guitar sound you hear in your head!
This short video lesson shows you step-by-step tips for setting eq, gain and distortion levels and more so you can get started crafting great rock and metal tones. And you don't need a $5,000 guitar amp to do it!
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Setting An Amp For Rock and Metal Guitar
0:10 In this lesson I'll show you tips for getting a great rock guitar sound. I'm not a guitar amp 'guru' and I'm not playing through high end gear that most guitarists can't afford! But the good news is that with these easy to use tips you can start getting closer to the guitar sound you want.
0:45 Amp Settings for Rock 'Crunch' Rhythm Sound
To get a rock rhythm guitar sound similar to bands like AC/DC or Guns'n'Roses set your amp on the distortion or overdrive channel. If you have a 'crunch' channel like I do then use this.
I normally set my eq up like this:
Bass: 2-3 o'clock
Treble: 2-3 o'clock
Notice how these are in a similar sort of area - I find this a good starting point before adjusting the mid control. The Mid control has a big influence on the sound so 'sweep' the Mid control round till you find the 'sweet spot' where it sounds good to you.
I normally set mine to about 10-11 o'clock.
Too much distortion (normally controlled by the 'Gain' knob) can make chords and riffs unclear and muddy so don't use too much!
Start by setting it to about 12-1 o'clock and adjust from there.
1:53 Hear me demo the settings on a 'classic rock' style chord riff. Notice how the sound is powerful with a good amount of punch - but you can still make the sound of the chords clearly.
2:08 Amp Settings for Rock Lead/Solo Sound
To get a bit more punch for a good lead guitar sound then you can try just increasing the distortion/gain on your rhythm sound. Some players use a pedal to do this so they don't need to mess around with the amp. If your amp has a designated lead channel then you might prefer to use this.
I normally use the same eq settings as on the crunch sound - I find they cut through but still sounds nice and fat. As with the rhythm guitar sound be aware of using too much distortion/gain!
On my lead channel I set the gain to about 1-2 o'clock but this will vary depending on your amp.
3:43 Obviously these are just guidelines to get you started! They won't necessarily be perfect for your taste or music. Alter them to get the sound you want. They're a great starting point though and should take the guesswork out of getting a good sound.
Good luck!
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