HeadRush Core settings
Mr. Brightside settings for HeadRush Core
The Killers · adapted 5 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Killers "Mr. Brightside" riff tone on a HeadRush Core, use the 67 BLACK SHIMMER (Fender Dual Showman) amp model on the crunch channel, then set Drive 5, Master 7, Bass 4, Mid 7, Treble 8, Presence 6. Use the bridge pickup (single-coil) pickup with your guitar's tone on 8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Telecaster · updated 2026-11-13
- Amp model
- 67 BLACK SHIMMER (Fender Dual Showman)
- Channel
- Crunch
- Cab
- 4x12 Closed Back
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup (single-coil)
- 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
- 1overdriveGREEN JRC OD (Ibanez TS808)Gain 5 · Tone 6 · Level 7
- 2modulationC1 CHORUS/VIBRATO (Boss CE-1 Chorus/Vibrato)Mix 6 · Rate 4 · Depth 5
- 3reverbSPRING REVERB (Fender Spring Reverb)Mix 5 · Decay 6
Playing tips
- Use a light palm muting technique to add definition to the riff.
- Incorporate a slow, subtle picking motion to capture the original's dynamic feel.
- Experiment with fingerstyle for a warmer tone, if desired.
The original rig
What The Killers used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your HeadRush Core 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 HeadRush Core for Mr. Brightside?
Use the 67 BLACK SHIMMER (Fender Dual Showman) (crunch channel) with Drive 5, Master 7, Bass 4, Mid 7, Treble 8, Presence 6, followed by GREEN JRC OD (Ibanez TS808), C1 CHORUS/VIBRATO (Boss CE-1 Chorus/Vibrato), SPRING REVERB (Fender Spring Reverb).
Which pickup should I use for Mr. Brightside?
Bridge pickup (single-coil), 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 Telecaster. 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 HeadRush Core
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Creep · Radiohead
- Alive · Pearl Jam
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.