Find the sweet spot for the most desirable tone
In this Gibson Gear Guide video, Dinesh Lekhraj takes the guesswork out of amp settings and shows you the easy way to make any guitar sound great. Whether you’re playing with humbuckers™, P-90 pickups, or both, this guitar amp setup tutorial covers it all.
In the video, he walks you through the optimal settings you need for clean tones, crunch tones, and even high-gain metal tones. This tutorial caters to all players—no matter your style or genre.
Can P-90 pickups handle metal?
One of the most common questions guitar players ask is, “Can P-90 pickups do metal?” Dinesh answers with a resounding yes. He even shows you how to dial in your amp for metal tones when using P-90 pickups, inspired by Tony Iommi’s iconic early Black Sabbath sound.
You’ll learn how to adjust your amp’s settings to get those gritty, heavy tones while keeping your sound balanced across your pickups. No more muddy neck tones or overly bright bridge sounds—Dinesh teaches you how to fine-tune your EQ for the perfect balance.
Mastering your amp controls
Understanding the various controls on your amp can be confusing for beginners. Dinesh breaks down how each knob works—from the bass, treble, and middle to gain and presence—so you can fully understand what each one does. He also shows how adjusting these controls can help you achieve specific tones, whether you’re after super-clean sounds or something with a lot more hair.
With these tips, you’ll be able to:
- Set your amp for different guitar pickups like humbuckers, P-90s, and single coils
- Fine-tune your EQ settings for a balanced tone, whether you’re using neck or bridge pickups
- Get the best sound for any style, whether it’s clean jazz, crunchy rock, or high-gain metal
How to set your amp for any tone
Dinesh shares his decades of experience, offering valuable insights that take you through the process step-by-step. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know exactly how to dial in your amp for different types of pickups and get the perfect tone for your guitar, no matter what kind of sound you’re chasing.
Ready for a new amp? Shop Gibson and MESA/Boogie® amps today.
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