Blues for the Red Sun album cover - Kyuss
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Allen's Wrench" by Kyuss - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Allen's Wrench"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain7
Bass7
Mid5.5
Treble5.5
Presence5.5
Volume7.5

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume10
Recording notes

From Blues for the Red Sun (1992). A heavy, fuzz-thick desert-rock riff that rolls along at a loping pace. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through a Marshall JCM900 4100 Dual Reverb stands in. Use the bridge pickup and set the amp for a tight, high-gain tone. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Allen's Wrench" Tone

  1. What guitar did Kyuss use on "Allen's Wrench"?

    The guitar on "Allen's Wrench" (released 1992) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Allen's Wrench" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 7, Mid 5.5, Treble 5.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 7.5. 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.

  3. Can I play "Allen's Wrench" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Allen's Wrench" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Allen's Wrench" by Kyuss are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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