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Down In a Hole — Alice In Chains1 / 2
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Down In a Hole Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Alice In Chains

Alice In Chains · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
G&L Rampage
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB (bridge humbucker)
Amp
Bogner Fish Preamp into Marshall JCM900 (modded) power amp
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording for 'Down In a Hole' on the 1992 album 'Dirt'. Jerry Cantrell used his G&L Rampage with a Duncan JB in the bridge, running into a Bogner Fish preamp and a Marshall JCM900 power amp, as confirmed by multiple sources referencing the Dirt sessions. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the studio riff tone.

Amp Settings

Mids
8
Bass
6
Gain
6.5
Reverb
2
Treble
6.5
Presence
5

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Tone Character

  • mid-forward and saturated
  • tight and crunchy
  • articulate rhythm
  • punchy and percussive
  • warm but aggressive
  • not overly scooped
  • slightly compressed
  • harmonic richness
  • dynamic with pick attack
  • controlled feedback at high volume

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio photo or official interview listing exact amp knob settings for this song; settings are averaged from forum posts referencing the Dirt era and typical Bogner Fish/Marshall JCM900 usage.
  • ⚠️Pedal/effects usage for the riff section is not explicitly documented for the studio recording; no evidence of additional pedals beyond amp gain for the main riff.
  • ⚠️Settings are estimated based on forum consensus and genre/era-typical usage for Cantrell's rig on 'Dirt'.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Jerry Cantrell's 'Down In a Hole' riff tone is a mid-forward, warm, crunchy sound typical of early '90s grunge/alt-metal, likely using a Bogner-modified amp or Marshall with moderate gain, boosted mids, and restrained highs for thickness. The production is dry with just a touch of room reverb, and the overall EQ avoids scooped or overly bright tones.

Sources