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Positive Grid Spark 40 settings

Mr. Brightside settings for Positive Grid Spark 40

The Killers · adapted 5 times on ToneAdapt

To get the The Killers "Mr. Brightside" riff tone on a Positive Grid Spark 40, set Gain 4.5, Master 5, Bass 4, Mid 7, Treble 8, Reverb 5. Use the bridge pickup (single-coil) pickup with your guitar's tone on 8 and volume on 8-9.

Riff settings

Adapted for a Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster · updated 2026-10-19

Pickup
Bridge pickup (single-coil)
Guitar knobs
Tone 8 · Volume 8-9

Positive Grid Spark 40 knobs

Gain
4.5
Master
5
Bass
4
Mid
7
Treble
8
Reverb
5
Mod
5

Built-in effects

  • Reverb on · 5

Playing tips

  • Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
  • Set your modulation effect to a slow chorus to add depth and simulate the effect of the phrase being doubled.
  • Play with a light touch on the strings to maintain clarity in the riff.

The original rig

What The Killers used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Positive Grid Spark 40 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 Positive Grid Spark 40 settings for Mr. Brightside?

Set Gain 4.5, Master 5, Bass 4, Mid 7, Treble 8, Reverb 5.

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 Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster. 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 Positive Grid Spark 40

All 49 songs for the Positive Grid Spark 40 →

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.