Solo Tone

San Quentin

Nickelback

Guitarmetal2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Explorer (black, with EMG pickups)

AmpMesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

PickupsEMG 81/85 active humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain8

bass5.5

mid5

treble7

reverb1.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

noise_gateMXR MXR Smart Gate

overdriveUnknown Overdrive pedal (model unknown, likely boost for solos)

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 2022. Guitar World confirms black Explorer with EMGs and Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier for 'San Quentin' era. Settings and pedal use based on studio context and rig rundown; no evidence of live substitutions.

Tone Character(10)

aggressive and saturatedtight and percussivescooped midsarticulate lead linessinging sustaincrisp attackhigh-output active pickup claritychunky rhythm foundationcutting lead presencemodern metal edge

Difficulty

The solo requires fast picking, accurate string skipping, and tight articulation under high gain, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.

Sources

Amp Settings for San Quentin by Nickelback (track tone) - Guitar Chalk Rig Rundown - Nickelback's Chad Kroeger & Ryan Peake - Premier Guitar Nickelback's Chad Kroeger reveals the 10 guitarists who shaped his sound – and they're heavier than you might expect | Guitar World

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