Tone library / Alice in chains / Down in a hole

Down in a hole amp settings — Vox VT40X

The Alice in chains guitar tone for “Down in a hole”, dialed in for a Vox VT40X with a PRS SE Custom 24. Studio version, Dirt (1992)

Original rig

G&L Rampage (Seymour Duncan JB bridge) into Bogner-modified Marshall JCM800 / Bogner Fish preamp blended with Mesa Dual Rectifier and Rockman

Dark, thick, mid-pushed high-gain crunch with smooth top-end and heavy low-mid bloom

Amp settings — Vox VT40X

CHANNELBRIT 800 (or DOUBLE REC model)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Mid	7
Treble	5
Reverb	2
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Vox VT40X BRIT 800 model provides the core Bogner-modded Marshall crunch Cantrell used on Dirt. Cantrell's recorded tone is notably warm and 'brown' rather than piercing, so keep Treble at 5 while pushing Mid to 7 and Bass to 6 to emulate the thick low-end multi-amp blend. Note that the VT40X control panel lacks a dedicated Presence knob, so high-end smoothness is controlled directly via Treble.

PRO TIPCantrell plays heavy downstrokes close to the bridge with a thick pick to get that grinding, vocal bite without sounding thin; tune down a half-step (Eb Standard) to match the record's natural slack and resonance.

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These settings are for a Vox VT40X. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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