Holiday amp settings — Peavey 6505+
The Green Day guitar tone for “Holiday”, dialed in for a Peavey 6505+ with a Fender Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster. Studio version, American Idiot (2004)
Fender Stratocaster with Seymour Duncan SH4 bridge humbucker → Marshall JCM800 2203 (or 1959SLP Plexi) — Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 7
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 4 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 4 |
The 6505+ is a high-gain modern metal amp with a scooped, saturated Lead channel — the opposite of Billie Joe's mid-forward Plexi crunch. Use the Crunch channel instead, which delivers tighter Marshall-adjacent breakup. Drop gain to 4 (the original's 7 on a JCM800 is far less saturated than 7 on a 6505+). Push mids +1 to compensate for the 6505's natural mid-scoop. Your Strat's single-coil bridge is brighter and lower-output than the original's SH4 humbucker, so the reduced gain keeps it from getting thin and fizzy.
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These settings are for a Peavey 6505+. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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