Tone library / Alice In Chains / Would?

Would? amp settings — Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110

The Alice In Chains guitar tone for “Would?”, dialed in for a Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110 with a Music Man StingRay Bass. Studio version, Dirt album (1992)

Original rig

Spector NS-2 bass (P/J pickups), Ampeg SVT-II head, SVT-810E 8x10 cabinet, ART SGX Nightbass (DI blend)

Gritty, punchy low-mid grind with aggressive pick attack and compressed sustain
Amp settings — Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110
GAIN 6 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 5 REVERB 0 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass5
Mid7
Treble5
Reverb0
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge+middle TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Maximum Overdrive

Provides the gritty SVT-II breakup character — use moderate drive to preserve note definition

Level 7 · Tone 5 · Drive 4

02Choir Boy Chorus

Bypass for Would? — the original has no chorus on bass. Leave off.

Rate 3 · Depth 4
Why these settings

Your StingRay's humbucker is hotter and more mid-focused than Starr's P/J Spector, so I cut bass by 1 and pushed mids +1 to avoid mud while preserving the aggressive bark. The RB-110 is a solid-state combo without the SVT's tube sag, so the Maximum Overdrive pedal at moderate drive compensates for that natural compression and grit. Roll tone knob to 8 to tame the StingRay's brightness.

PRO TIPStarr used a heavy pick attack near the bridge for that percussive clank — dig in hard with a thick pick (1mm+) right over the pickup pole pieces to nail the aggressive transient snap that cuts through the guitars.

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These settings are for a Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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