Jerry Cantrell — Rig Network

Cantrell's primary guitar for Facelift and Dirt — the Rampage's active electronics and double-locking tremolo produce a consistent, articulate attack well-suited to Cantrell's rhythm-heavy approach. The high-output active pickups push the Mesa hard.

Unique to this artist in the database

Jerry Cantrell Signature Les Paul Custom — a black Les Paul Custom he's used since the mid-1990s. The humbuckers into the Mesa Rectifier produce the thick, compressed grunge-metal rhythm tone of Jar of Flies and later material.

Used in early touring — the 540S with EMG pickups provided high output and consistent intonation for drop-D tuning across long touring cycles.

Unique to this artist in the database

The Dual Rectifier is Cantrell's defining amp — its silicon diode rectifier produces tight, modern high-gain that retains low-end weight even at extreme gain levels. The Rectifier's scooped mid character lets Cantrell's guitar fill the low and high frequencies while the vocals occupy the mids.

Used alongside the Mesa for harmonic complexity — the Bogner adds a slightly more British character and smoother harmonic overtones compared to the Rectifier's tight American gain.

Early Alice in Chains touring — the JCM800 before the Mesa became available. The British gain character defined Facelift's slightly brighter, less scooped guitar tone.

Cantrell uses wah selectively for dramatic effect on specific passages — not a constant texture but a dramatic emphasis tool. Heard on several Dirt and self-titled solos.

Phase 90 for subtle movement on clean or semi-clean sections — Alice in Chains have several acoustic-adjacent passages where the Phase 90 adds gentle modulation.

Moderate delay for lead passages — set for short, dry single repeat rather than sustained echo. Adds dimension to sustained lead notes without washing the signal.

Dunlop signature wah model built to Cantrell's specification — a voiced version of the Cry Baby tailored to his tone preferences.

Unique to this artist in the database