HeadRush Prime settings
What If settings for HeadRush Prime
Creed · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Creed "What If" riff tone on a HeadRush Prime, use the 98 JCM2000 ULTRALEAD amp model on the lead channel, then set Gain 5.5, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a PRS US Tremonti · updated 2026-10-05
- Amp model
- 98 JCM2000 ULTRALEAD
- Channel
- Lead
- Cab
- 4x12 Closed Back
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
HeadRush Prime knobs
- Gain
- 5.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 5
Amp block
- Drive
- 8
- Master
- 7
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Original drive
- 8
Effects chain
- 1noise gateDefault GateRelease 5 · Threshold 5
- 2overdriveGreen JRC OverdriveGain 4 · Tone 5 · Level 7
- 3reverbBlackpanel Spring ReverbMix 2 · Decay 3
Playing tips
- Focus on tight palm muting for chugging riffs.
- Use aggressive pick attack to maintain clarity in high-gain settings.
- Experiment with controlled feedback for sustained notes.
The original rig
What Creed used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your HeadRush Prime actually has.
- Guitar
- PRS Tremonti (Mark Tremonti Signature, likely 1999-2000 spec)
- Amp
- Marshall JMP-1 rackmount preamp with Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 5.5
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 1.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get What If adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Creed's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What amp model should I use on the HeadRush Prime for What If?
Use the 98 JCM2000 ULTRALEAD (lead channel) with Drive 8, Master 7, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 6, followed by Default Gate, Green JRC Overdrive, Blackpanel Spring Reverb.
Which pickup should I use for What If?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Creed use on What If?
Guitar: PRS Tremonti (Mark Tremonti Signature, likely 1999-2000 spec). Amp: Marshall JMP-1 rackmount preamp with Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp.
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a PRS US Tremonti. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Popular songs on the HeadRush Prime
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Alive · Pearl Jam
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Smoke on the Water · Deep Purple
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Comfortably Numb · Pink Floyd
- Creep · Radiohead
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.