Riff Tone
Check My Brain
Alice In Chains
Guitarmetal2000s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom (Signature, 2009)
AmpBogner Ecstasy 101B
PickupsGibson Custombucker humbucker (bridge position)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
mid5.5
treble6.5
reverb0.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 2008-2009, for 'Check My Brain' on 'Black Gives Way to Blue'. Settings and gear confirmed for the riff section. Drop D tuning. No evidence of pedal use for the riff; all drive and EQ from amp. Pickup selector set to bridge.
Tone Character(10)
heavy, minor-key riffingtight and percussivethick, saturated distortionmidrange punchbridge pickup biteclear note definitionslightly detuned bends for seasick feelaggressive palm mutingmodern grunge/alt-metal saturationdefined low end
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate technique due to the signature 'seasick' half-step bends, tight palm muting, and maintaining clarity with high gain. While not extremely fast, the articulation and pitch control are challenging.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarmetal2000s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom (Signature, 2009)
AmpBogner Ecstasy 101B
PickupsGibson Custombucker humbucker (bridge position)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
mid5.5
treble6.5
reverb0.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 2008-2009, for 'Check My Brain' on 'Black Gives Way to Blue'. Settings and gear confirmed for the riff section. Drop D tuning. No evidence of pedal use for the riff; all drive and EQ from amp. Pickup selector set to bridge.
Tone Character(10)
heavy, minor-key riffingtight and percussivethick, saturated distortionmidrange punchbridge pickup biteclear note definitionslightly detuned bends for seasick feelaggressive palm mutingmodern grunge/alt-metal saturationdefined low end
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate technique due to the signature 'seasick' half-step bends, tight palm muting, and maintaining clarity with high gain. While not extremely fast, the articulation and pitch control are challenging.
More Alice In Chains tones
- Man In the Box (Live) · riff
- Nutshell · solo
- Nutshell · riff
- Them Bones · riff
- We Die Young · riff
- Nutshell · riff
- Would? · riff
- Down In a Hole · riff
- Rooster · riff
- Bleed the Freak (Live) · riff