Tone Settings for Bound for the Floor by Local H (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Set amp volume to moderate-high levels for natural tube breakup or saturation.
• Guitar volume knob should be near maximum (9–10) to fully drive the amp.
• Use a volume pedal or guitar knob roll-off slightly for dynamics during verses.

2. Tone

• Dial in a gritty, mid-heavy distortion — not overly scooped or too modern.
• Treble should be present but not piercing (set around 5–6 on a typical amp).
• Boost mids (around 6–7) to cut through the mix and emulate mid-90s alt-rock tone.
• Bass around 4–5 to avoid muddiness, keeping the sound tight and defined.
• Guitar tone knob rolled back slightly (about 8) to reduce harsh highs if needed.

3. Pickup Selector

• Use bridge pickup for aggressive, tight distortion during chorus and riffs.
• Middle or neck pickup can be used for slightly rounder tone in verses, but bridge is primary for this song.

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Humbucker preferred for thicker, more aggressive tone.
• Local H is known for using heavier distortion, which benefits from humbuckers’ noise-canceling and output qualities.
• A bridge-position humbucker (such as an HSS Strat) is closest to achieving the album’s grit.

5. Ideal Guitar Type

• Strat-style electric guitar with HSS pickup configuration (humbucker in bridge, single coils in middle and neck) is ideal.
• Hardtail bridge (non-tremolo) preferred for tuning stability and sustain.
• Maple or rosewood fretboard — personal preference, but both are workable.
• Alder or basswood body for balanced tone and midrange presence.
• Configure with right-handed setup, standard tuning, and light-to-medium gauge strings (.010–.046).

• Fender Stratocaster: Versatile tone with clear highs, good for clean riffs.
• Gibson Les Paul: Thick, punchy sound ideal for the song’s heavier sections.
• Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal: Classic distortion to match the gritty tone of the original track.
• Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi: Fuzzy texture for a more aggressive variation.
• Marshall DSL40CR Combo Amp: Tube-driven amp with strong mids and crunch.
• Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings (.010-.046): Balanced tone and playability for alternative rock style.
• Dunlop Tortex Picks (1.0mm): Stiff picks for precise attack and control.
• TC Electronic PolyTune Clip-On Tuner: Accurate and quick tuning on the fly.
• Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor: Reduces amp hum and pedalboard noise during heavy distortion.

• Use moderate guitar distortion to replicate the grunge-inspired tone.
• Set amp EQ to: Bass ~6, Mid ~4, Treble ~7 for clarity and punch.
• Utilize a bridge humbucker pickup for a tighter, heavier crunch.
• Employ palm muting on the lower strings during verses for dynamic control.
• Apply slight chorus or reverb for added depth but avoid over-processing.
• Tuning is Drop D; verify low E is tuned down to D (D A D G B E).
• Use medium-gauge strings (.010–.046) for better low-end response.
• Dial in a tight noise gate if using high gain to reduce hiss between chords.
• Use assertive but controlled strumming to match the song’s rhythmic drive.
• For solo tone, slightly boost mids and volume using an overdrive pedal.