It should be pointed out right away that you can’t really pronounce universally optimal settings for everyone’s guitar amp. There are simply too many variables that can have an impact on your tone. Some of these we’ll touch on, talking about how to deal with them and make your sound better.
But when you hear the term best, optimal or perfect amp settings, you should always take the information as a generalization and with a grain of salt. You’re being given suggestions, and not a formula.
Because tone isn’t mathematical.
That said, your tone can improve if you understand your amp and have a direction to go in when you’re configuring it. It’s even possible that you’re missing out on a better tone because you haven’t taken the time to tweak your settings.
We’ll show you how to do that here, starting with the most basic element of your sound; volume.
Addressing Volume
What’s often overlooked by those who set out to optimize their amp settings is volume. There are three different volume sources that you’re likely working with:
- From your Guitar
- Channel Volume
- Master Volume
For reasons that I cannot explain, the volume knob on your guitar will actually alter the tonal quality of your signal if it is turned down. That can be helpful if and when you do want to change your tone, but for testing purposes it’s best to keep the volume on your guitar all the way up so that you’re getting a complete signal to your amp.
If you have a channel volume on your amplifier, that can have a similar effect.
However, it’s good practice to leave this somewhere between five and seven and use your master volume to control the overall output of your amp.
Master volume is really the only one that should routinely change.
So in steps:
- Set the volume on your guitar to ten.
- Set your amp’s channel volume to seven (you may want to have different channels at different volumes).
- Adjust your master volume to an appropriate output.
Once you’ve done this, the master volume is the only one that will need to be adjusted when you’re playing in different places.
Creating a Starting Point
We need to establish a starting point where we have a clean slate to work with. That means all effects should be off and your guitar should be set as generically as possible.
Here’s your checklist.
- Set all tone knobs on your guitar to ten.
- Turn off all effects.
- Set all amp knobs to five (except for volume knobs).
Once you’re done with these steps, the settings on your amp should look like this:
Three with volume and your three-band EQ set at 12 o'clock
Now you’re ready to start tweaking your amp settings.
We’ll start with the low-end configuration and then cover the high-end. If you prefer to start with the high-end settings, feel free to skip ahead.
Optimal Low-End Clean Amp Settings
We’ll deal with a typical three-band EQ which handles low, middle and high frequencies. Those three frequency ranges correspond, respectively, to the bass, mid and treble knobs on your amplifier.
So we can start there.
Try these configurations first:
Pushed lows in the EQ for a smoother clean signal.
- Bass: 8
- Mid: 6
- Treble: 6
If it sounds to “stringy” cut the mids to four or five. If it’s too “piercing” do likewise to the treble.
Too Stringy or Hollow
Cut mids back if you feel like it has too much bite.
- Bass: 8
- Mid: 4
- Treble: 6
Too Piercing or High
Cut treble if tone is too high.
- Bass: 8
- Mid: 6
- Treble: 4
What works will depend on the tendency of your amp and the rest of your rig. But above all, keep the bass knob high to get that rumbling low-end sound we’re looking for.
Optimal High-End Clean Settings
In the same manner, we’ll adjust the treble knob to get a high-end clean tone.
Once again, we’ll focus solely on a three-band EQ with the bass, mid and treble adjustments. Let’s setup a starting point.
Brighten things up with more treble if things are too muddy.
- Bass: 4
- Mid: 6
- Treble: 8
Amps that favor the low-end EQ (like the Fender ’65 Deluxe or Mesa Boogie Stiletto) might need to have their bass cut down a little more.
Here are some other possible adjustments.
Too Much Bass or Low-End
Drop bass and push treble higher to get a brighter and more brisk clean tone.
- Bass: 2
- Mid: 5
- Treble: 8
Too Stringy or Hollow
If you need to thicken up the tone, roll back the mids and push bass higher.
- Bass: 5
- Mid: 3
- Treble: 8
Cutting back treble when you’re looking for a higher-pitched signal isn’t advisable, but if it does sound too piercing, just dial it back to six or seven if need be. Once again this will depend on the rest of your rig and your type of amplifier.
Conventionally, Marshall amps will have that brighter more “shimmering” tone.
Tweaking
One thing to keep in mind is that getting the optimal clean sound from your amp is largely (though not entirely) subjective.
I’ve given you the conventions and a place to start. So if you don’t like what you’re hearing, it should be instinctual for you to dive in and do some tweaking to try and get it “right.” For you, getting it right might be different than what it is for me.
Personally, I like a warm and low-end tone, which leads me to almost always use the middle position on my pickup switch and to keep the bass on my amp a little higher.
If that’s not your thing, you’ll adjust and find something you like.
So don’t get hung up with finding the perfect tone.
There are great tones that you can emulate, and best practices that you should try to follow. But the tone doesn’t exist and shouldn’t discourage you from tweaking and trying different things with your rig.
Considering Effects
A clean tone should be configured and established without any effects enabled, but once you have those settings, write them down and then start testing them with different sounds from your pedalboard.
Start with basic modulation and compression effects (chorus, noise gates, compressors, phasers, etc).
These effects don’t heavily alter or distort your signal, making them good first choices to test out your standardized settings. You might find that the sound you get with the effects call for you to go back and do some more tweaking.
Guitar pedals can help layer and improve your clean tone. Flickr Commons Image Courtesy of jgarber
Once you’re happy with basic modulation and compression, move into your delay pedals, distortions and any of the heavier effects you might use for another round of testing.
If your amp’s three-band EQ is in good shape, then your effects will probably sounds fine as well.
Conclude
Great tone is a balance between finding something that you like and something that everyone who listens to you will also find appealing. It’s a mix between your own creative instincts and the conventional wisdom of the masses who both play and follow the kind of music that you’re a part of.
Optimizing that means you’ll strike a balance where your tone sounds good in a general sense, but is still you.
If you get your three-band EQ figured out, that will make the rest of the process a lot easier.
The way you utilize effects, your playing style and the unique compilation of your rig will account for that extra something that makes your sound “you.”
Different Opinion?
What is your story like when it comes to tracking down the ultimate amp settings? Give us some numbers for your three-band EQ over at Twitter or the comments section below.
Amp Setting Images Courtesy of the JamUp iPad App
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Written by Bobby on Amp Settings
Written by Bobby on Amp Settings
Thank you for this guide which is the only I have found that gives an insight into amplifier settings.
I am an absolute beginner when it comes to setting up an amp so your help would be very welcome.
I have just aquired a Lazy J10LC amp that has 2 bright, 2 normal channels. 2 volume switches and 1 tone switch.
Plus their is a push/pull on the tone switch to bring up the mids. there is also a switch in the rear to cut down the base. The amp also has an integral vac to bring down the volume
I would like a simple idiots guide on how to dial in a clear bell ringing clean setting. Also what to adjust to take it to a warm blues setting.
My guitar is a 2017 American Pro Fender Strat.
thank you
Okay – just to confirm – is this your amp? https://guitar.com/review/lazy-j-j10lc/
If so, I’d start with this:
– Bright channel for bell/clear tone
– Normal channel for warm blues
You really need more EQ power (in my opinion). Do you have any additional EQ devices like an equalizer or preamp pedal? That amp doesn’t really give you much flexibility, unfortunately.
Hello,
I have an amp without master volume. Is it different to use your method? Thanks
Hey Guillaume – does it have gain or channel volume? What controls are present?
Hello, I have a clean channel with a volume knob and a drive channel with gain (intensity) and level (Volume). The EQ is the same for both channel with Bass Mids Treble (Plus reverb).
Yeah – that would still work. In that scenario, you would just treat the channel volume as the master. Looks like gain levels are sort of “baked in” to each channel.