Vox AC30 settings
Black Hole Sun settings for Vox AC30
Soundgarden · adapted 6 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Soundgarden "Black Hole Sun" riff tone on a Vox AC30, set Gain 6, Bass 5, Treble 6, Reverb 2, Tone cut 4, Reverb tone 5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Blacktop Telecaster HH · updated 2026-10-13
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Vox AC30 knobs
- Gain
- 6
- Bass
- 5
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 2
- Tone cut
- 4
- Reverb tone
- 5
- Master volume
- 6
- Tremolo depth
- 0
- Tremolo speed
- 0
Playing tips
- Use a dynamic picking attack to emphasize the defined string attack.
- Incorporate palm muting on lower strings for a punchy, rhythmic feel.
- Experiment with slight bends and vibrato to add expressiveness to the riff.
The original rig
What Soundgarden used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Vox AC30 actually has.
- Guitar
- Guild S-100
- Amp
- Late-Seventies Marshall Model 1987 JMP 50-watt Lead head (blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo head)
- Gain
- 6
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 5.5
- Presence
- 4
- Reverb
- 1.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get Black Hole Sun adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Soundgarden's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Vox AC30 settings for Black Hole Sun?
Set Gain 6, Bass 5, Treble 6, Reverb 2, Tone cut 4, Reverb tone 5.
Which pickup should I use for Black Hole Sun?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 10 and volume at 10.
What gear did Soundgarden use on Black Hole Sun?
Guitar: Guild S-100. Amp: Late-Seventies Marshall Model 1987 JMP 50-watt Lead head (blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo head).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Blacktop Telecaster HH. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Black Hole Sun on other amps
- Black Hole Sun on Fender Mustang LT25 · 134
- Black Hole Sun on Boss Katana · 55
- Black Hole Sun on Fender Frontman 10G · 45
- Black Hole Sun on Fender Champion 20 · 20
- Black Hole Sun on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 20
- Black Hole Sun on Fender Frontman 15G · 17
- Black Hole Sun on Fender Mustang LT50 · 14
- Black Hole Sun on Boss GT-1000 · 13
Popular songs on the Vox AC30
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Walk · Pantera
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- 1979 · The Smashing Pumpkins
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.