1: CLEAN SHIMMER

A nice, basic clean sound with a little extra.

This EQ makes a great base for adding chorus and/or reverb. Ideal for fills or subtle arpeggios.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: MIDDLE

AMP: BASS: 5 / MIDS: 6 / TREBLE: 7 / GAIN:

CHORUS: LEVEL: 4 / RATE: 4 / DEPTH: 3

REVERB: LEVEL: 3 / TONE: 4 / TIME: 5 / TYPE: Plate / IF IN AMP: 3

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2: IDEAL FENDER AMP EQ

Also know as “the magic six.”

Thought to be one of the more optimal Fender amp settings.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: MIDDLE

AMP: BASS: 2 / MIDS: 3 / TREBLE: 6 / GAIN: 0 / VOLUME: 6 / REVERB: OFF

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3: CLEAN BASE FOR DELAY An EQ specifically for a clear echo or delay.

This can work with any delay pedal or with other repeating effects, like echo or tremolo.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: BRIDGE

AMP: BASS: 8 / MIDS: 4 / TREBLE: 4 / GAIN: 2 / REVERB: 3 (or to taste)

DELAY PEDAL: Most settings should be “to taste.” Make sure MIX favors the wet signal.

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4: LOW GAIN

Where your amplifier is the gain source.

Get a subtle chunk to your tone by adding a little bit of gain and pushing mids higher than usual.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: MIDDLE

AMP: BASS: 5 / MIDS: 8 / TREBLE: 5 / GAIN: 3-5 / PRESENCE: 4 / REVERB: OFF

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5: THE WAH CUT

The wah-friendly amp EQ.

Adding just enough shimmer to make the high notes pop.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: 80% / SELECTOR: BRIDGE

AMP: BASS: 6 / MIDS: 5 / TREBLE: 6 / GAIN: 2 / REVERB: OFF

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6: THE METAL EQ A low-end boost for a good metal boom.

Dialing in the perfect tone to go with high-saturation metal.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: MIDDLE OR BRIDGE

AMP: BASS: 8 / MIDS: 4 / TREBLE: 4 / GAIN: 10 (or pedal) / REVERB: OFF

DISTORTION PEDAL: LEVEL: AMP VOLUME / DRIVE: 75% / BASS: 6-8 / TREBLE: 3-5

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7: LEAD BOOST For creating a simple signal boost.

Works great for solos or when you want your guitar to “punch through” with just a little more definition.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: BRIDGE

AMP: BASS: 2 / MIDS: 7 / TREBLE: 5 / GAIN: 6 / REVERB: 2

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8: BOSS DS-1 BLUES Blues EQ for Boss DS-1 distortion owners.

How to set your amp for the optimal accompanying of the Boss DS-1 distortion pedal.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: 75% / SELECTOR: MIDDLE

AMP: BASS: 4 / MIDS: 7 / TREBLE: 7 / GAIN: 6 / REVERB: OFF

DS-1 SETTINGS: TONE: 5 / LEVEL: 5 / DIST: 5

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9: THE ADAM JONES For covering Tool’s guitar tracks.

Adam Jones isn’t conventional, but his tone is easier to replicate than you might think.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: BRIDGE

AMP: BASS: 8 / MIDS: 9 / TREBLE: 6 / GAIN: 8 (or pedal) / REVERB: OFF

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10: ALL REVERB

Works especially well with Fender amps.

A three-band EQ for pushing a lush reverberated tone into the atmosphere.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: 90% / SELECTOR: Middle

AMP: BASS: 4 / MIDS: 7 / TREBLE: 8 / GAIN: 0 / REVERB: 7-10

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11: THE TOM MORELLO Covering Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine

Focusing on the distorted tones that Tom Morello has been most known for over the years.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: Middle or Bridge

AMP: BASS: 4 / MIDS: 4 / TREBLE: 9 / GAIN: 7 / REVERB: OFF

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12: TOM MORELLO 2.0 For when the original sounds too much like a tin can.

If you’re using an amp or guitar that emits a “brighter” tone, here’s how to cut things back and take the edge off.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: 90% / SELECTOR: Middle

AMP: BASS: 6 / MIDS: 5 / TREBLE: 6 / GAIN: 7 / REVERB: OFF

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13: THE MINIMALIST

Ever want to just be really subtle? There’s a right way.

The optimal EQ for providing subtle fills, background noise or light strumming.

GUITAR: VOLUME: 70% / TONE: 80% / SELECTOR: Middle

AMP: BASS: 5 / MIDS: 4 / TREBLE: 3 / GAIN: 3 / REVERB: 2 (or to preference)

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14: ACOUSTIC EQ

Amplified acoustics are tricky, but hang in there.

We don’t want our acoustic to ring too much (feedback gets annoying) but we also don’t want a hollow sound.

GUITAR: VOLUME: 70% / TONE: 80% (if applicable) / SELECTOR: n/a

AMP: BASS: 6 / MIDS: 6 / TREBLE: 2 / GAIN: 0 / REVERB: 2-3

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15: ACOUSTIC EQ 2.0 The strummer’s acoustic setting.

The previous configuration was heavy. This time we cut down the bass and give the highs a turn.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: 90% (if applicable) / SELECTOR: n/a

AMP: BASS: 3 / MIDS: 7 / TREBLE: 6 / GAIN/VOLUME: 5 / REVERB: 2-3

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16: OPTIMAL HIGH END

For correcting a signal with too much bass.

This is a quick look at how you might want to dial in something that gives you a little more bite.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: 80% / SELECTOR: Bridge

AMP: BASS: 3 / MIDS: 7 / TREBLE: 6 / GAIN: 0 / REVERB: off

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17: OPTIMAL LOW END

For correcting a signal that’s too high or piercing.

If you want a little more “thud” in your clean signal or if you just need to thicken things up a bit.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: 90% / SELECTOR: Middle

AMP: BASS: 5 / MIDS: 4 / TREBLE: 6 / GAIN: 0 / REVERB:off

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18: KURT COBAIN EQ Capturing the optimal Seattle grunge flavor.

Cobain’s settings here work best with a Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion and EHX Small Clone chorus.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: Bridge

AMP: BASS: 6 / MIDS: 8 / TREBLE: 8 / GAIN: 10 (or use pedal) / REVERB:off

DS-2 TURBO: LEVEL: 10 / TONE: 4-6 / DIST: 6-10 / TURBO: Position I

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19: THE EDGE EQ A three band EQ to get your started on U2‘s tone.

David Evans’ tone is far more complex than a three-band EQ, but this is a good starting point.

GUITAR: VOLUME: MAX / TONE: MAX / SELECTOR: Middle

AMP: BASS: 5 / MIDS: 6 / TREBLE: 7 / GAIN: 1-2 / REVERB:1-2

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