Guitar tone · rock, metal

Nickelback guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 19 Nickelback songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Gibson Les Paul Custom into Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier.

Guitars Nickelback used

Gibson Les Paul Custom5 songs
Fender Standard Telecaster HH3 songs
PRS Hollowbody2 songs
Gibson Explorer 7-String1 song
Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar1 song
Gibson Les Paul (likely Custom or Standard, as used by Chad Kroeger in studio)1 song
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 2000s model, as used by Chad Kroeger in studio)1 song
Gibson Les Paul (likely Custom or Standard, as used by Chad Kroeger on Silver Side Up)1 song

Amps Nickelback used

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier7 songs
Fractal Axe-Fx (Bogner Uberschall amp model)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording head, 2005 era)1 song
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (common for Nickelback studio rhythm tones in this era)1 song
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier (with Mesa Boogie 4x12 cabinet, as used in studio for Silver Side Up)1 song
Fender Super 60 (mid-80s rackmount version, clean channel)1 song
Fractal Axe-Fx (Bogner Uberschall amp model, studio recording)1 song
Fender Super 60 (rackmount, mid-1980s, tube)1 song

23 Nickelback tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Animals · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier	7.5
How You Remind Me · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Standard Telecaster HH	Unknown (likely Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier or similar high-gain amp, but not confirmed for studio recording)	7.5
Leader of Men · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Fractal Axe-Fx (Bogner Uberschall amp model)	6.5
Side of a Bullet · riff	Riff · distorted	Dean Z (likely Dean Z X or Z 79, exact model not confirmed for studio recording)	Fractal Axe-Fx (Bogner Uberschall amp model, studio recording)	8.5
Something In Your Mouth · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (crystal-covered, as seen in Premier Guitar rig rundown for this song)	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio and live for heavy/distorted tones)	8
Because of You · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier	7.5
Burn It to the Ground · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Explorer 7-String	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier	8
Do This Anymore · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1990s/early 2000s, as used by Chad Kroeger in studio)	Bogner Uberschall (Fractal Axe-Fx emulation, studio recording)	7.5
Far Away · riff	Riff · clean	PRS Hollowbody	Fender Super 60 (mid-80s rackmount, clean channel)	0
Far Away (Live From Red Rocks) · riff	Riff · clean	PRS Hollowbody	Fender Super 60 (mid-80s rackmount version, clean channel)	0
Feed the Machine · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier	8.5
Figured You Out · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier	7.5
How You Remind Me · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Standard Telecaster HH	Fender Super 60 (rackmount, mid-1980s, tube)	0
How You Remind Me · riff	Riff · clean	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1990s/2000s, as used by Chad Kroeger in studio and live at the time)	Fender Super 60 (mid-1980s rackmount, used for clean tones in both studio and live per Premier Guitar rig rundown)	0
How You Remind Me · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Standard Telecaster HH	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier	7.5
Make Me Love You · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely Custom or Standard, as used by Chad Kroeger on studio recordings in this era)	Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, Silver Side Up era)	7.5
Next Go Round · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier	8.5
S.E.X. · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 2000s model, as used by Chad Kroeger in studio)	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (common for Nickelback studio rhythm tones in this era)	7.5
San Quentin · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Explorer (black, with EMG pickups)	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier	8
Savin' Me · solo	Solo · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely Custom or Standard, as used by Chad Kroeger in studio)	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording head, 2005 era)	7.5
Savin' Me · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Chad Kroeger Signature Blackwater Les Paul	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head	8
Too Bad · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul (likely Custom or Standard, as used by Chad Kroeger on Silver Side Up)	Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier (with Mesa Boogie 4x12 cabinet, as used in studio for Silver Side Up)	7.5
Trying Not to Love You · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2000s model, as used by Chad Kroeger in studio/live for heavy sections)	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio and live for distorted tones)	7

Nickelback songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Nickelback use?

Across 19 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (7 songs), Fractal Axe-Fx (Bogner Uberschall amp model) (1 song), Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording head, 2005 era) (1 song), Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (common for Nickelback studio rhythm tones in this era) (1 song).

What guitar did Nickelback use?

Most often: Gibson Les Paul Custom (5 songs), Fender Standard Telecaster HH (3 songs), PRS Hollowbody (2 songs), Gibson Explorer 7-String (1 song).

How do I get Nickelback's tone on my amp?

Open any Nickelback song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.