Marshall MG30CFX settings
Mr. Brightside settings for Marshall MG30CFX
The Killers · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Killers "Mr. Brightside" riff tone on a Marshall MG30CFX, set Gain 4.5, Volume 6, Master 5, Bass 4, Mid 6, Treble 7. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Ibanez RGA42EX · updated 2026-10-06
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 8 · Volume 8-9
Marshall MG30CFX knobs
- Gain
- 4.5
- Volume
- 6
- Master
- 5
- Bass
- 4
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 5
- Tap
- 0
- Store
- 0
- Contour
- 4
- Fx type level
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 7.5
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in chorus set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Keep your guitar volume high to maintain clarity and presence in the mix.
- Adjust the master volume to balance with the band without losing the edge of the tone.
The original rig
What The Killers used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall MG30CFX 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 are the best Marshall MG30CFX settings for Mr. Brightside?
Set Gain 4.5, Volume 6, Master 5, Bass 4, Mid 6, Treble 7.
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 Ibanez RGA42EX. 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 Marshall MG30CFX
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Heart-Shaped Box · Nirvana
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Layla · Derek & The Dominos
- Welcome To The Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Black Hole Sun · Soundgarden
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.