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 recreate the aggressive tone of 'Everlong,' we'll use the Fender Mustang LT25 with the 'MYTHIC CRUNCH' preset as a starting point, adjusting the EQ to emphasize mids and treble while slightly scooping the bass. The Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s will be used, focusing on its bridge pickup to mimic the humbucker character. The amp's gain will be set to achieve a saturated tube crunch with aggressive clipping, matching the song's driving energy.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — Main rhythm and lead guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Bridge Pickup | Select the bridge pickup to emulate the humbucker character. |
| Master Volume | 8 | Set to 8 to maintain clarity and dynamics in the verses. |
| Tone 1 | Leave at default | Not used for the bridge pickup. |
| Tone 2 | 6 | Roll back slightly to tame any harshness from the single-coil brightness. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — Main amplifier
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | [20] MYTHIC CRUNCH | Chosen for its modern high-gain character, similar to the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier. |
| Gain | 7 | Set to 7 to achieve a saturated tube crunch with aggressive clipping. |
| Volume | 5 | Balanced to maintain dynamics between verses and choruses. |
| Treble | 6 | Boosted to enhance the bright and cutting tone. |
| Bass | 4 | Slightly scooped to keep the low end tight and focused. |
| Master | Leave at default | Not used, as it doesn't affect the tone in this setup. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Effects | 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 with a slight chorus effect for the intro and verse, emulating the Fender Telecaster used on the recording.
- the pedal: Preset → [01] FENDER CLEAN
- 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