Marshall MG50FX settings
Alive settings for Marshall MG50FX
Pearl Jam · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Pearl Jam "Alive" solo tone on a Marshall MG50FX, set Gain 1.5, Volume 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 7, Treble 6.5, Fx level 0. Use the neck + middle pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
updated 2026-10-10
- Pickup
- Neck + Middle
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Marshall MG50FX knobs
- Gain
- 1.5
- Volume
- 7
- Bass
- 5.5
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 6.5
- Fx level
- 0
- Fx select
- 0
- Reverb level
- 5
- Store switch
- 0
- Tuner switch
- 0
- Master volume
- 5
- Damping switch
- 0
- Od1 od2 select
- 0
- Tap tempo switch
- 0
- Clean crunch select
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 3
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Pick lightly for a more dynamic response and to maintain clarity in the notes.
- Experiment with your picking technique to achieve a glassy high-end articulation.
The original rig
What Pearl Jam used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall MG50FX actually has.
- Guitar
- Fender Stratocaster (likely 1960s or '57 Reissue, Aged White, as seen in 1991-92 live footage)
- Amp
- Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet with 65 Amps Empire 22-watt Tube Head and/or Satellite Atom 36-Watt Head (studio era, early 1990s)
- Gain
- 6
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 6.5
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 2.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get Alive adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Pearl Jam's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Marshall MG50FX settings for Alive?
Set Gain 1.5, Volume 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 7, Treble 6.5, Fx level 0.
Which pickup should I use for Alive?
Neck + Middle, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Pearl Jam use on Alive?
Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (likely 1960s or '57 Reissue, Aged White, as seen in 1991-92 live footage). Amp: Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet with 65 Amps Empire 22-watt Tube Head and/or Satellite Atom 36-Watt Head (studio era, early 1990s).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Alive on other amps
Popular songs on the Marshall MG50FX
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
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.