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Would? Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Alice In Chains
Alice In Chains · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1985 G&L Rampage
Pickups
G&L single humbucker (Schaller-made, high output, bridge position)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (Bogner-modded), possibly blended with Bogner Fish preamp
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Would?' on the 1992 album 'Dirt'. Jerry Cantrell is confirmed to have used his G&L Rampage and a Bogner-modded Marshall JCM800 for most of the album's riff tones. Some sources mention the Bogner Fish preamp and Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier as possible additions, but the JCM800 is most consistently cited for the main riff sound. No evidence of live/touring gear or alternate guitars for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids8
Bass5.5
Gain6.5
Reverb1.5
Treble6
Presence5
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Tone Character
- mid-forward and punchy
- tight and percussive
- aggressive attack
- saturated but not fizzy
- clear note separation
- crunchy rhythm
- warm low end
- pronounced midrange
- slightly compressed
- minimal ambience
Notes & Caveats
- No direct studio documentation of exact amp knob settings for 'Would?' riff; settings are estimated based on forum posts referencing Alice in Chains' typical tone and era-correct amp usage.
- Some sources mention Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier and Bogner Fish preamp as possible additions, but Marshall JCM800 (Bogner-modded) is most consistently cited for main riff tones on 'Dirt'.
- No evidence of pedals or modulation/time-based effects used on the main riff; distortion is amp-based.
- Guitar knob settings (volume 10, tone 1-2) are from forum advice, not direct studio notes.
- Reverb setting is estimated low (2/10) as the tone is dry and direct; any ambience is likely from studio mixing, not amp or pedal.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Jerry Cantrell's 'Would?' tone is a mid-forward, crunchy sound with moderate gain, tight low end, and restrained highs, typical of early 90s grunge/alt-metal. The amp (likely a Bogner-modified Marshall or similar) is set for punchy, articulate riffing with minimal reverb, matching the song's dry, focused production.