Dam That River — Alice In Chains1 / 2
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Dam That River Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Alice In Chains

Alice In Chains · 1990s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
G&L Rampage (Jerry Cantrell's main guitar at the time, used on Dirt sessions)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB (humbucker, bridge position)
Amp
Bogner Fish preamp into a VHT Classic power amp and Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio setup for Dirt era, as per Cantrell interviews and Equipboard)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1992 Dirt sessions. Jerry Cantrell used his G&L Rampage with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge, running into a Bogner Fish preamp and VHT Classic power amp into a Marshall 4x12. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this solo. No explicit mention of pedals for the solo section.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
1
Treble
7
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • tight and saturated
  • aggressive and percussive
  • singing sustain
  • slight midrange emphasis
  • articulate pick attack
  • controlled feedback
  • minimal ambient reverb
  • gritty and focused
  • classic grunge/metal
  • bridge pickup bite

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No explicit numeric amp settings found for 'Dam That River' solo; settings estimated based on typical Bogner Fish/VHT/Marshall setup for early 90s grunge/metal and Cantrell's known preferences.
  • ⚠️No direct evidence of pedals used for the solo; no delay, chorus, flanger, or wah is clearly audible in the solo section.
  • ⚠️Guitar and amp chain confirmed for Dirt album sessions, but pickup selector inferred from typical Cantrell usage and solo tone.
  • ⚠️Reverb is minimal and likely from the amp or studio room, not a pedal.
  • ⚠️If more detailed studio notes or isolated tracks become available, settings may need revision.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Jerry Cantrell's 'Dirt'-era tone is thick, mid-forward, and crunchy but not overly saturated, using a high-gain Marshall or Bogner with moderate bass, strong mids, and controlled treble. The solo section is dry and direct, with little to no reverb, matching the album's tight, in-your-face production.

Sources