Everlong by Foo Fighters — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
To capture the aggressive and dynamic tone of 'Everlong,' we'll use the Fender Mustang LT25's modeling capabilities to approximate the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier sound, paired with the Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster for its bright, cutting single-coil tone. The amp's 'MYTHIC CRUNCH' preset provides a solid foundation for the song's saturated tube crunch and mid-forward character.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster — main guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Bridge Pickup | Selects the bridge pickup for a bright, cutting tone that matches the aggressive parts of the song. |
| Master Volume | 8 | Set high to drive the amp and match the song's dynamic range. |
| Tone 1 | Leave at default | Not used for the bridge pickup; controls neck and middle pickups. |
| Tone 2 | 6 | Roll off some treble to prevent harshness while maintaining brightness. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — main amplifier
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | [20] MYTHIC CRUNCH | Chosen for its modern high-gain character, matching the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier's tone. |
| Gain | 7 | Pushes the amp into a saturated tube crunch, emulating the ProCo RAT's aggressive clipping. |
| Volume | 5 | Balances overall output without overpowering the mix. |
| Treble | 6 | Enhances brightness and cutting edge, crucial for the song's aggressive tone. |
| Bass | 4 | Slightly scooped to prevent muddiness and maintain clarity. |
| Master | 5 | Set to maintain dynamics and headroom, allowing for explosive choruses. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
Section guide — how the tone changes through the song
Intro/Verse
Switch to a clean tone for the intro and verse, emulating the recording's clean Fender Telecaster sound.
- the pedal: Preset → [13] SUPER DRYCLEAN
- the pedal: Gain → 3
- the pedal: Treble → 5
- the pedal: Bass → 5
What Foo Fighters actually used
Recorded at Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood, California, 'Everlong' features Dave Grohl's 1967 Gibson Trini Lopez Standard guitar, known for its distinctive sound and used extensively throughout Foo Fighters' recordings. The song's dynamic range is achieved through the combination of the ProCo RAT pedal and Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier amp for distorted sections, while the Fender Tone-Master amp provides cleaner tones. A flanger effect is applied during the bridge to add depth to the sound.
- 1967 Gibson Trini Lopez Standard — main rhythm and lead. bridge pickup
- ProCo RAT — distortion
- Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier — main amplifier
- Fender Tone-Master — clean sections
- Flanger — modulation effect
Tuning: Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E)
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/dave-grohls-lucky-guitar
- https://guitar.com/features/artist-rigs/the-guitar-gear-used-on-the-foo-fighters-the-colour-and-the-shape/
- https://www.rigtone.com/tone/everlong-amp-settings
- https://www.toneadapt.com/community/everlong--foo-fighters--solo--distorted--guitar