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Marshall MG15DFX settings

Mr. Brightside settings for Marshall MG15DFX

The Killers · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt

To get the The Killers "Mr. Brightside" riff tone on a Marshall MG15DFX, set Gain 4.5, Bass 4, Treble 8, Reverb 5, Contour 6, Fdd switch 1. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 8 and volume on 8-9.

Riff settings

Adapted for a Epiphone Les Paul · updated 2026-10-14

Pickup
Bridge pickup
Guitar knobs
Tone 8 · Volume 8-9

Marshall MG15DFX knobs

Gain
4.5
Bass
4
Treble
8
Reverb
5
Contour
6
Fdd switch
1

Built-in effects

  • Chorus on
  • Reverb on · 5

Playing tips

  • Use your amp's built-in chorus set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
  • Adjust the reverb to add depth, but keep it controlled to avoid muddiness.
  • Pick with a light touch to maintain the dynamic response of the clean channel.

The original rig

What The Killers used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall MG15DFX 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
Full Mr. Brightside tone breakdown, effects and sources →

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 are the best Marshall MG15DFX settings for Mr. Brightside?

Set Gain 4.5, Bass 4, Treble 8, Reverb 5, Contour 6, Fdd switch 1.

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 Epiphone Les Paul. 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 Marshall MG15DFX

All 25 songs for the Marshall MG15DFX →

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.