Tone Settings for Hunger Strike by Temple of the Dog (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Set volume on the guitar to full (10) for maximum clarity and signal strength.
• Use your amp’s master volume or drive gain to control overall loudness.
• Balance rhythm and lead levels using your amp’s channel settings or volume pedal if needed.

2. Tone

• Set the guitar tone knob around 6–7 to retain clarity while softening the brightness.
• On amplifier EQ, use:
  • Bass: Around 6–7 for warmth and depth.
  • Mids: Around 7–8 to emphasize the gritty vocal-like tone.
  • Treble: Around 5–6 to avoid harsh highs but keep presence.
• Use limited reverb (if any) and minimal effects to preserve the raw grunge character.

3. Pickup Selector

• Use bridge pickup for the main riffs to emphasize attack and brightness.
• Switch to the neck pickup for smoother tones during melodic or vocal-influenced parts.
• Middle selector (bridge + neck) can be an optional setting for rhythm work, but less common in this particular track.

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Humbuckers are strongly preferred to capture the thick, warm, and full tones typical of early 90s grunge.
• They help reduce noise and produce that saturated rock tone heard in “Hunger Strike.”
• Match with a moderate gain amp or overdrive pedal to replicate the dynamic crunch.

5. Ideal Guitar Type

• An electric guitar styled after the Gibson SG is ideal—this matches the tone and aesthetic used by Kim Thayil.
• Mahogany body and set neck construction help produce a warm, sustaining tone.
• Dual humbuckers are essential for the sound; PAF-style or moderate output pickups work well.
• Short scale (24.75”) neck contributes to a slinky feel and darker tone signature.

• Gibson Les Paul Standard: Delivers the thick, sustaining tone ideal for grunge rhythm and leads.
• Fender Telecaster: Cuts through the mix well for the dual vocal-guitar parts.
• Marshall JCM800 Amp: Classic British crunch used by many Seattle bands.
• Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal: Adds gritty distortion while retaining note clarity.
• Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi: Fuzzy distortion for a heavier grunge feel.
• Cry Baby Wah Pedal: Great for expressive lead parts and mellow verse dynamics.
• TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb: Adds ambiance to the clean intro and breakdowns.
• Dunlop Tortex Picks (0.88 mm): Balanced attack for strumming and riffs.
• Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Strings (10-46): Standard tension for both rhythm and lead flexibility.
• Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner: Reliable pedal tuner for stage and practice.

• Use a clean amp tone with moderate gain—aim for clarity over saturation.
• Slight chorus or modulation can add depth to rhythm parts.
• Bridge pickup for leads; toggle to neck pickup for fuller rhythm sections.
• Set EQ with slight mid-cut and boosted low-end for warmth.
• Use light reverb to replicate room ambiance from the original recording.
• Vintage-style distortion pedals (like Big Muff or DS-1) for authenticity.
• Dial in moderate compression to balance dynamics, especially on vocals.
• Use alternate tuning (Drop D) for accurate riff and chord voicing.
• Bass tone should be punchy with moderate gain—focus on presence and articulation.
• Drums should be tight and dry with slight room reverb—avoid excessive cymbal wash.