How to Dial In "A History of Bad Men" by Melvins - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "A History of Bad Men"
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 A Senile Animal (2006). Their fifteenth album, produced by the band at West Beach Recorders in Hollywood in July 2006, it was released on Ipecac on October 10, 2006 and is the first with Big Business's Jared Warren and Coady Willis. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s through a Sunn Model T, the nearest rig to the one documented for Melvins, stands in. Set the amp to a driven crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "A History of Bad Men" Tone
What guitar did Melvins use on "A History of Bad Men"?
The guitar on "A History of Bad Men" (released 2006) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "A History of Bad Men" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 6, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, 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 "A History of Bad Men" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "A History of Bad Men" 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 "A History of Bad Men" by Melvins are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.