Johnny Marr Amp Settings
EQ dial positions, gain structure, and how to replicate the sound on any amp
Reference Amp
Boss Katana 50 MkII
$189
Gain structure: pedals doing most of the work into a clean-ish amp
Amp voice: british
Estimated Starting Settings
Dial positions are derived from Johnny Marr's tonal fingerprint. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear on your specific amp.
6
Gain6
Bass7
Mid6
Treble6
Presence4
ReverbAll values on a 0–10 scale. Start here and adjust to room acoustics and your specific amp model.
Choosing the Right Amp
british crunchMarshall Plexi, JCM800, Vox AC — mid-forward crunch. Let the amp drive the tone.
vox acVox AC15/AC30 — class-A British chime. Unique compressed response at volume.
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.
- Don't scoop the mids. Johnny Marr's mid-forward voicing is essential to cut through the mix.
- Use reverb generously — Johnny Marr's tone relies on spatial depth.
- Master volume matters — many classic tones only work at significant volume when tubes are working hard.