Tone library / Joe Satriani / Cryin'

Cryin' amp settings — Headrush Frfr108

The Joe Satriani guitar tone for “Cryin'”, dialed in for a Headrush Frfr108 with a Ibanez Rg3ex1. Studio version, The Extremist (1992)

Original rig

Ibanez JS1/Chrome Boy with DiMarzio PAF Pro & Fred humbuckers into Boss DS-1 distortion, blended early Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier and Soldano SLO-100 heads, 4x12 Marshall cabs, studio plate reverb, digital delay, and Eventide pitch detune

Singing, sustained, vocal lead tone with liquid mids and wide stereo ambient delay
Amp settings — Headrush Frfr108
CHANNELSLO 100 Lead (Soldano SLO-100 model) + 4x12 Greenback cabBRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 6 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 5 PRESENCE 5 REVERB 0 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass5
Mid7
Treble5
Presence5
Reverb0
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01HeadRush White OD (Boss DS-1 Style Dirt)

Used as a tight front-end sustain push into the high-gain amp model

Drive 3 · Tone 4 · Level 7

02HeadRush Air Delay

Post-amp/cab block; set tempo sync to roughly 420ms (dotted 8th or 1/4 note)

Feedback 4 · Mix 3 · Time 5

03HeadRush Studio Reverb

Post-amp block to match The Extremist studio lush plate ambiance

Decay 5 · Mix 3 · Tone 5
Why these settings

The HeadRush FRFR-108 has an aggressive, direct high-frequency response through its 8-inch driver and horn, so amp treble and presence are capped at 5 and the overdrive tone at 4 to prevent brittle top end. Satriani's tone leans heavily on thick, vocal upper-midrange sustain, so the SLO-100 Lead model's mid control is boosted to 7. Your RG3EX1 passive humbuckers match the output profile of Satriani's DiMarzios closely, but rolling the guitar tone knob slightly down to 8 rounds off the attack to nail his singing, flute-like sustain.

PRO TIPSatriani picks lightly over the neck or middle area while fretting firmly to coax maximum fluid sustain, and he uses the edge of the pick or index finger flesh for controlled pinch harmonics on sustained notes.

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These settings are for a Headrush Frfr108. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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