GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Again Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Alice In Chains
Alice In Chains · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
G&L Rampage (1985, Jerry Cantrell's main guitar for Alice In Chains self-titled album)
Pickups
Single Seymour Duncan JB humbucker (bridge position, stock on Cantrell's Rampage)
Amp
Peavey 5150 120-Watt Head (studio recording, 1995, Alice In Chains self-titled album)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1995. Jerry Cantrell used his G&L Rampage with a Seymour Duncan JB humbucker into a Peavey 5150 head for the main heavy rhythm tones on 'Again'. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the original recording. No confirmed pedal use for the riff section; distortion comes from the amp.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- chunky and saturated
- tight and percussive
- mid-heavy with thick body
- aggressive palm muting
- articulate attack
- sustained power chords
- slightly scooped but present mids
- heavy, modern rock gain structure
- clear note separation under high gain
- crushing grunge rhythm
Notes & Caveats
- No direct amp knob settings for 'Again' found; settings estimated based on typical Peavey 5150 usage for 1990s grunge/metal and Jerry Cantrell's known preferences.
- No evidence of pedal use for the main riff section; distortion is from the amp. Some sources mention Big Muff and Tube Screamer in Cantrell's general rig, but not confirmed for this song/section.
- No modulation or time-based effects (chorus, delay, flanger, etc.) are audible or cited for the main riff section of 'Again'.
- Pickup choice inferred from Cantrell's typical use of the bridge humbucker on the Rampage for heavy rhythm parts.
- Guitar knob settings are estimated based on typical usage for maximum output and clarity in high-gain settings.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Jerry Cantrell's tone on 'Again' is thick, saturated, and mid-forward, typical of his late '90s Bogner/Marshall setup with high gain but not extreme, tight lows, and pronounced mids for clarity. The track is dry with little reverb, and the presence is set to add bite without harshness.