Song
Under the Bridge
Red Hot Chili Peppers · Blood Sugar Sex Magik · 1991
Preview and cover from Apple Music
- Amp
- Marshall Guitar Head (JCM800 / Bluesbreaker)
- Guitar
- 1958 Fender Stratocaster
- Tuning
- E standard
On the record, John Frusciante played a 1958 Fender Stratocaster through a Marshall Guitar Head (JCM800 / Bluesbreaker) and a Marshall Bass Head. It's in E standard.
The original rig
John Frusciante's iconic tone on Under the Bridge comes from a vintage Stratocaster split through a stereo chorus into two Marshall heads—one guitar head for chime and one bass head for low-end punch. Studio compression and subtle ambient reverb polish the clean, edge-of-breakup arpeggios.
John Frusciante · Rhythm and solo
Settings Estimated
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 10
- Pickup
- Neck or Neck/Middle (Position 4)
Equipped with stock single-coil pickups, delivering clear, articulate attack.
Settings Estimated
- Speed
- 9 o'clock
- Depth
- 10 o'clock
- Delay Time
- 11 o'clock
Used primarily as a subtle stereo splitter between the two Marshall amps rather than an overt modulation effect.
Settings Estimated
- Gain
- 3
- Bass
- 5
- Middle
- 5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Presence
- 6
- Channel
- Clean / Low Sensitivity
Dialed right at the edge of breakup to react dynamically to picking intensity.
Settings Estimated
- Volume
- 4
- Bass
- 6
- Middle
- 5
- Treble
- 4
Paired simultaneously with the guitar head to add low-end weight and punch.
Standard Marshall 4x12 speaker cabinets paired with the heads.
Settings Estimated
- Ratio
- 3:1
- Attack
- Medium
- Release
- Fast
Warm outboard studio compression applied during tracking and mixing to enhance sustain on clean arpeggios.
Settings Estimated
- Decay
- Short
- Type
- Plate / Room
Subtle studio reverb used during mixing at The Mansion to place the tracked guitars into a natural space.
- 1.reddit.com · reddit.com · forum
- 2.guitarchalk.com · guitarchalk.com · source
Have the real gear, or another modeller? Start from these. Studio knob positions are rarely written down; these are a starting point.
Researched Oct 2026 · 2 sources · How ToneSheet researches a song
Tuning
The record is in E standard, low to high: E A D G B E. Tune your guitar the same way, or tell ToneSheet how it's tuned and your device shifts the tone to match.
Questions about the Under the Bridge guitar tone
What amp did John Frusciante use on Under the Bridge?
John Frusciante played through a Marshall Guitar Head (JCM800 / Bluesbreaker) (an estimate), with Channel Clean / Low Sensitivity, Gain 3, Bass 5, Middle 5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6 (settings estimated); and a Marshall Bass Head (an estimate), with Volume 4, Bass 6, Middle 5, Treble 4 (settings estimated).
What guitar did John Frusciante play on Under the Bridge?
John Frusciante played a 1958 Fender Stratocaster (an estimate), with Pickup Neck or Neck/Middle (Position 4), Volume 10, Tone 10 (settings estimated).
What effects did John Frusciante use on Under the Bridge?
A DOD FX65 Stereo Chorus (an estimate).
What tuning is Under the Bridge in?
E standard: low to high, E A D G B E.
How do I get the Under the Bridge guitar tone on an amp modeller?
Start from your modeller's model of the Marshall Guitar Head (JCM800 / Bluesbreaker), set like the original (Gain 3, Bass 5, Middle 5, Treble 6.5), with a guitar like a 1958 Fender Stratocaster, tuned to E standard. Ready presets, with every block's settings: HOTONE Pulze Mini (1).
Presets for Under the Bridge
Tones players shared for their amp modellers, each with every setting, block by block.
HOTONE Pulze Mini1 version
All Pulze Mini presetsMake it for your guitar
Name your guitar and how it's tuned, and ToneSheet makes the tone for it: the pickup and knob settings, and every block on your device.
Different guitar or tuning? Make your own version (1–2 minutes)Updated