Kirk Hammett Amp Settings
EQ dial positions, gain structure, and how to replicate the sound on any amp
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ — Dial Settings
SourcedAll values on a 0–10 scale. Adjust by ear — room acoustics and specific amp variants affect the exact position.
Other Guitarists on a Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+
Choosing the Right Amp
Amp at Every Budget
Getting the Most From Your Amp
- Use the amp's own drive channel rather than stacking too many pedals —Kirk Hammett's tone benefits from amp-driven saturation.
- Master volume matters — many classic tones only work at significant volume when tubes are working hard.
Related Gear
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FAQ
Kirk Hammett Amp Settings — Common Questions
Kirk Hammett uses the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ with Gain at 9, Bass at 7, Mid at 3, Treble at 8, and Presence at 8. Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ with scooped mids — classic thrash EQ. High gain, bass and treble boosted, mids significantly scooped. Presence high for bite. ESP or Jackson with EMG 81/85 active pickups.
Kirk Hammett's primary amp is the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+. At different budgets, similar tones can be achieved with: Boss Katana 50 MkII (£200 · Beginner), Boss Katana 50 MkII (£500 · Sweet Spot), Marshall DSL40CR (£1,000 · Pro-Level), Marshall DSL40CR (£2,500 · Premium).
Kirk Hammett sets Gain to 9 on the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+. Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ with scooped mids — classic thrash EQ.
You can get close to Kirk Hammett's tone on any amp by focusing on the EQ character rather than specific gain levels. Key: use balanced mids (5–6) as a starting point. Use the amp's drive channel rather than external pedals for the primary distortion. A Boss Katana or Blackstar HT series can approximate the tone at low cost.
For Kirk Hammett's EQ signature: Bass 5/10, Mid 5/10, Treble 6/10, Presence 5/10. The tone is characterised as: wah-heavy-lead, melodic-blues-influenced, thrash-rhythm. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear to your specific amp and room.