Boss GT-1000 settings
Mr. Brightside settings for Boss GT-1000
The Killers · adapted 17 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Killers "Mr. Brightside" riff tone on a Boss GT-1000, use the BOUTIQUE (touch-sensitive crunch) amp model on the crunch channel, then set Drive 5, Master 7, Bass 4, Mid 7, Treble 8, Presence 6. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Acoustic · updated 2026-11-05
- Amp model
- BOUTIQUE (touch-sensitive crunch)
- Channel
- Crunch
- Cab
- 4x12 cabinet
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 8 · Volume 8-9
Amp block
- Drive
- 5
- Master
- 7
- Bass
- 4
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 8
- Presence
- 6
- Original drive
- 5
Effects chain
- 1overdriveT-SCREAM (Ibanez TS-808)Gain 5 · Tone 6 · Level 7
- 2modulationCHORUSMix 5 · Rate 5 · Depth 5
- 3reverbSPRINGMix 6 · Decay 5
- 4compressionBOSS COMP (BOSS CS-3)Level 7 · Ratio 4 · Attack 5 · Release 5
- 5noise gateNOISE SUPPRESSORRelease 5
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Use a light pick attack to maintain clarity in the riff.
- Incorporate subtle palm muting for a tighter sound.
- Focus on consistent strumming to keep the rhythmic feel intact.
The original rig
What The Killers used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss GT-1000 actually has.
- Guitar
- Fender Stratocaster (likely American Standard, early 2000s, as used by Dave Keuning on the studio recording)
- Amp
- Fender Hot Rod DeVille (studio recording, 2003 era; Fender-style amp confirmed by multiple sources)
- Gain
- 4.5
- Bass
- 4.5
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 8
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 5
Different guitar or pedals? Get Mr. Brightside adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts The Killers's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What amp model should I use on the Boss GT-1000 for Mr. Brightside?
Use the BOUTIQUE (touch-sensitive crunch) (crunch channel) with Drive 5, Master 7, Bass 4, Mid 7, Treble 8, Presence 6, followed by T-SCREAM (Ibanez TS-808), CHORUS, SPRING, BOSS COMP (BOSS CS-3), NOISE SUPPRESSOR.
Which pickup should I use for Mr. Brightside?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did The Killers use on Mr. Brightside?
Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (likely American Standard, early 2000s, as used by Dave Keuning on the studio recording). Amp: Fender Hot Rod DeVille (studio recording, 2003 era; Fender-style amp confirmed by multiple sources).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Acoustic. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Mr. Brightside on other amps
- Mr. Brightside on Fender Mustang LT25 · 202
- Mr. Brightside on Boss Katana · 94
- Mr. Brightside on Fender Frontman 10G · 88
- Mr. Brightside on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 52
- Mr. Brightside on Fender Champion 20 · 42
- Mr. Brightside on Neural DSP Quad Cortex · 29
- Mr. Brightside on Fender Frontman 15G · 26
- Mr. Brightside on Line 6 POD Go / POD Go Wireless · 24
Popular songs on the Boss GT-1000
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Walk · Pantera
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Raining Blood · Slayer
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.