Tone library / Herbert Grönemeyer / Alkohol

Alkohol amp settings — Harley Benton HB-80R Celestion

The Herbert Grönemeyer guitar tone for “Alkohol”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HB-80R Celestion with a Harley Benton Fusion-III HH. Studio cut, 4630 Bochum (1984) — main rhythm/riff tone

Original rig

Gerhard 'Gagey' Mrozeck: Fender Stratocaster / Gibson Les Paul into Marshall JCM800 / Plexi style tube head with slight chorus and compression

80s German rock crunch with tight palm-muted low-mids and bright attack
Amp settings — Harley Benton HB-80R Celestion
CHANNELOverdrive Channel (Channel Select In)
GAIN 6 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 7 REVERB 2 MASTER 4
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass5
Mid7
Treble7
Reverb2
Master4
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Analog Chorus / Boss CE-2 style

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; adds the subtle wide 1984 studio dimension to the palm-muted riff

Rate 3 · Depth 5
Why these settings

The HB-80R solid-state preamp needs gain around 6 on its Overdrive channel to deliver the dry, tight German 80s rock crunch without fuzzing out. Pushing the mids to 7 compensates for the Fusion-III humbuckers and replicates the aggressive upper-mid cut of the original JCM800 recording. Treble is kept at 7 to ensure crisp definition on the palm-muted chug sections.

PRO TIPKeep your palm muting right against the bridge saddles to get that percussive, tight 1984 studio thump on the driving eighth-note rhythm without muffling the pitch.

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These settings are for a Harley Benton HB-80R Celestion. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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