Everlong amp settings — Acoustic solutions GA-20W
The Foofighters guitar tone for “Everlong”, dialed in for a Acoustic solutions GA-20W with a Femder squier stratocaster Ser # CXS. Studio version, The Colour and the Shape (1997)
Gibson ES-335/Trini Lopez (PAF humbuckers) → Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (distorted sections) / Fender ToneMaster (clean verses), Mesa 4x12 cab, miked with SM57 + Neumann U87
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 8 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 7 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Presence | 0 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 6 |
01Overdrive/Distortion Pedal (Boss DS-1 or similar)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for this tone. A DS-1 ($50 new) or Joyo Crunch ($30) will get you 80% there. Without a dirt pedal, the GA-20W cannot produce the required saturation.
The GA-20W is a small solid-state practice amp with limited gain and a bright, thin voicing compared to the Mesa Rectifier's thick saturation. I pushed gain to max (8) and mid to 7 to compensate for the Strat's scooped single-coils vs Grohl's fat humbuckers. Bass dropped to 4 because small speakers flub out with too much low-end. The amp cannot achieve Rectifier gain on its own—a dirt pedal is mandatory for authenticity.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Acoustic solutions GA-20W. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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