Fender Champion 20 settings
Don't Cry settings for Fender Champion 20
Guns N' Roses · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Guns N' Roses "Don't Cry" solo tone on a Fender Champion 20, select the 60s British preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 5, Reverb 1.5. Use the neck pickup with your guitar's tone on 4 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Ibanez GRG120BDX · updated 2026-04-21
- Preset / mode
- 60s British
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 4 · Volume 8-9
Fender Champion 20 knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 5
- Reverb
- 1.5
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in delay set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Engage the reverb for added depth, but keep it subtle to maintain clarity.
- Focus on expressive bends and touch-sensitive dynamics to capture the vocal-like quality of the solo.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Ibanez GRG120BDX · updated 2026-04-21
- Preset / mode
- Tweed Deluxe
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Fender Champion 20 knobs
- Gain
- 5.5
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 1
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Use the neck pickup for a warm, articulate tone.
- Engage the amp's built-in chorus for a subtle shimmer.
- Keep your playing dynamic to highlight the articulate nature of the riff.
The original rig
What Guns N' Roses used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Champion 20 actually has.
- Guitar
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 1980s, likely 1987-1989, as used by Slash in studio for Use Your Illusion sessions)
- Amp
- Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1990-1991)
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 6.5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 5
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 3.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get Don't Cry adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Guns N' Roses's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What preset should I use on the Fender Champion 20 for Don't Cry?
Start from the 60s British preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 5, Reverb 1.5.
Which pickup should I use for Don't Cry?
Neck pickup, with the guitar's tone at 4 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Guns N' Roses use on Don't Cry?
Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Standard (late 1980s, likely 1987-1989, as used by Slash in studio for Use Your Illusion sessions). Amp: Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1990-1991).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Ibanez GRG120BDX. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Don't Cry on other amps
More Guns N' Roses on the Fender Champion 20
All Guns N' Roses tones →Popular songs on the Fender Champion 20
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Mr. Brightside · The Killers
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Smoke on the Water · Deep Purple
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.