Nightmare amp settings — Fender Blues Junior IV
The avenged sevenfold guitar tone for “Nightmare”, dialed in for a Fender Blues Junior IV with a Ibanez RG550. Studio version, Nightmare album (2010)
Schecter Synyster Gates Custom-S (Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader bridge) → MXR MC401 Boost → Bogner Uberschall 120W head
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 10 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 8 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 7 |
01Tube Screamer style OD (TS9 / TS Mini / Ibanez TS808)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for this tone. Run into amp input. Drive at 0, used as a clean boost to tighten low end and push the amp harder. This replaces the MXR MC401 Boost function.
02High-gain distortion (Boss MT-2 / MXR 5150 OD / Revv G3)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The Blues Junior cannot produce Uberschall-level gain on its own. A dedicated high-gain pedal is mandatory for this tone. Stack AFTER the TS for maximum tightness.
The Bogner Uberschall is a 120W high-gain monster; the Blues Junior is a 15W clean-platform tube amp with no high-gain channel. The amp's gain maxed out still produces bluesy breakup, not metal saturation. You MUST use a high-gain distortion pedal as your primary dirt source. Amp settings are configured clean-ish to avoid mud—mid pushed to 8 (vs original's ~6) because Fenders are naturally scooped, treble dropped to 5 because the Fender's treble shelf is higher/brighter than the Uberschall's voicing, bass cut to 4 to prevent flub. Reverb at 0—the original is bone dry.
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These settings are for a Fender Blues Junior IV. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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