How to Dial In "Black Gives Way to Blue" by Alice in Chains - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Black Gives Way to Blue"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Black Gives Way to Blue (2009). Their fourth studio album, produced by Nick Raskulinecz and the band, it was released on 29 September 2009 and is the first without Layne Staley and the first with William DuVall. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom (Signature) through a Bogner Ecstasy 101B, the nearest rig to the one documented for Alice in Chains, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it a half step down (E♭ standard).
Common Questions About the "Black Gives Way to Blue" Tone
What guitar did Alice in Chains use on "Black Gives Way to Blue"?
The guitar on "Black Gives Way to Blue" (released 2009) isn't documented; the Gibson Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom (Signature) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Black Gives Way to Blue" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Black Gives Way to Blue" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Black Gives Way to Blue" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Black Gives Way to Blue" by Alice in Chains are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.