How to Dial In "Get on Top" by Red Hot Chili Peppers - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Get on Top"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Marshall Major (200W) - 'The Pig'. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
The most overtly funk track on Californication and a rare case of Frusciante playing in the clipped, percussive style of the Blood Sugar era on that album — muted sixteenth-note stabs locked to the hi-hat with almost no sustain, sitting over one of Flea's most prominent bass lines. That means low gain, bass rolled back, and the right hand in constant motion whether or not it is sounding notes. Standard tuning. Recorded 1998-99 at Cello with Rick Rubin. Adding warmth or drive to make the guitar bigger is the standard mistake: the part is a rhythm-section instrument here and needs to leave the low end entirely to the bass.
Common Questions About the "Get on Top" Tone
What guitar did Red Hot Chili Peppers use on "Get on Top"?
Red Hot Chili Peppers tracked "Get on Top" on a Stratocaster (released 1999). The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Get on Top" need?
On Marshall Major (200W) - 'The Pig': Gain 4.5, Bass 4.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 6. 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 "Get on Top" without a Marshall Major (200W) - 'The Pig'?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Get on Top" 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 "Get on Top" by Red Hot Chili Peppers are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.