B.B. King Amp Settings
EQ dial positions, gain structure, and how to replicate the sound on any amp
Fender Super Reverb — Dial Settings
Sourced4
Gain5
Bass6
Mid7
Treble4
ReverbClean amplifier — BB King used no effects pedals whatsoever. Fender Super Reverb or similar set clean-to-just-crunching. All expression from his vibrato technique and guitar volume. The 'Lucille' ES-355 does the singing.
All values on a 0–10 scale. Adjust by ear — room acoustics and specific amp variants affect the exact position.
Choosing the Right Amp
clean fenderFender Twin, Deluxe, Blues Junior — sparkle and headroom. Keep clean and let pedals do the work.
boutique cleanTwo-Rock, Dumble-style — pristine warm headroom. Expensive but tonally unmatched.
Amp at Every Budget
Getting the Most From Your Amp
- Keep the amp clean and use pedals for drive — the amp's headroom lets the pedals breathe.
- Master volume matters — many classic tones only work at significant volume when tubes are working hard.