How to Dial In "Actual Pain" by Good Charlotte - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Actual Pain"
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 Generation Rx (2018). Generation Rx is the seventh album by the American rock band Good Charlotte. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the nearest rig we use for Good Charlotte's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "Actual Pain" Tone
What guitar did Good Charlotte use on "Actual Pain"?
The guitar on "Actual Pain" (released 2018) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Actual Pain" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5.5, 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 "Actual Pain" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Actual Pain" 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 "Actual Pain" by Good Charlotte are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.