Riff Tone

Whale & Wasp

Alice In Chains

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarG&L Rampage

AmpMarshall JCM800 (Bogner-modded, studio recording)

PickupsSeymour Duncan SH-4 JB (humbucker, bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain5

bass6

mid5.5

treble6

reverb4

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown)

reverbUnknown Reverb pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 1993/1994 (Jar of Flies sessions). Gear confirmed for Alice in Chains heavy/distorted tones of this era. No direct evidence for alternate guitars or amps on 'Whale & Wasp' riff; Les Paul sometimes layered but Rampage is primary for Cantrell's heavy tones.

Tone Character(10)

lush and saturatedethereal and ambientsinging, violin-like sustainrich harmonic overtonessmooth, fluid distortionwide stereo imagemelodic and expressivehaunting, atmospheric texturesmodulation-richreverb-heavy

Difficulty

The riff is not technically fast but demands nuanced control of sustain, expressive phrasing, and careful use of effects to achieve the signature ambient, violin-like tone.

Sources

Amp Settings for Man in the Box by Alice in Chains (guitars and tone) - Guitar Chalk Alice in Chains – Jar Of Flies - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard

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