Mike McCready Amp Settings
EQ dial positions, gain structure, and how to replicate the sound on any amp
Fender Super Reverb / Fender Vibrolux — Dial Settings
SourcedAll values on a 0–10 scale. Adjust by ear — room acoustics and specific amp variants affect the exact position.
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 —Mike McCready's tone benefits from amp-driven saturation.
- Don't scoop the mids. Mike McCready's mid-forward voicing is essential to cut through the mix.
- Master volume matters — many classic tones only work at significant volume when tubes are working hard.
Related Gear
Similar Guitarists
FAQ
Mike McCready Amp Settings — Common Questions
Mike McCready uses the Fender Super Reverb / Fender Vibrolux with Gain at 6, Bass at 6, Mid at 6, Treble at 7, and Presence at 6. Mike McCready's tone is rooted in the SRV tradition: Fender Stratocaster into a Fender amp at the edge of breakup, with an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer as the primary boost. His Strat uses neck and neck+middle positions for warm, vocal lead tones. The Tube Screamer is set drive-low, level-high — pushing the amp input stage rather than providing primary distortion. For heavier Pearl Jam rhythm work, he switches to bridge pickup with TS9 drive slightly higher. His playing style draws directly from Hendrix and SRV.
Mike McCready's primary amp is the Fender Super Reverb / Fender Vibrolux. At different budgets, similar tones can be achieved with: Boss Katana 50 MkII (£200 · Beginner), Boss Katana 50 MkII (£500 · Sweet Spot), Marshall DSL20CR (£1,000 · Pro-Level), Marshall DSL100H (£2,500 · Premium).
Mike McCready sets Gain to 6 on the Fender Super Reverb / Fender Vibrolux. Mike McCready's tone is rooted in the SRV tradition: Fender Stratocaster into a Fender amp at the edge of breakup, with an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer as the primary boost.
You can get close to Mike McCready's tone on any amp by focusing on the EQ character rather than specific gain levels. Key: keep the mids high (7–8) — mid-forward voicing is critical. 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 Mike McCready's EQ signature: Bass 5/10, Mid 8/10, Treble 6/10, Presence 6/10. The tone is characterised as: hendrix-influenced, expressive-bends, grunge-blues. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear to your specific amp and room.