How to Dial In "Lab Monkey" by Alice in Chains - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Lab Monkey"
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 The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013). Produced by Nick Raskulinecz with Alice in Chains at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, with sessions running from July 2011 to December 2012. It runs 5:59. Jerry Cantrell's rig around Rainier Fog is reported as G&L and Gibson Les Paul guitars, his signature Friedman amp, and cleaner AC30 and Fender amps, but 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 stands in. Set the amp at a driven crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it a half step down with the low string dropped a further whole step (Db Ab Db Gb Bb Eb).
Common Questions About the "Lab Monkey" Tone
What guitar did Alice in Chains use on "Lab Monkey"?
The guitar on "Lab Monkey" (released 2013) 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 Custom tuning, so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Lab Monkey" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 6.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. 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 "Lab Monkey" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Lab Monkey" 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 "Lab Monkey" by Alice in Chains are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.