Tone library / My Chemical Romance / Famous Last Words

Famous Last Words amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

The My Chemical Romance guitar tone for “Famous Last Words”, dialed in for a Positive Grid Spark 40 with a Strandberg Boden Standard. Studio version, The Black Parade (2006)

Original rig

Gibson Les Paul Standard → Marshall JCM800 2203 head → Marshall 4x12 cabinet (no pedals for riff section, amp-driven distortion)

Saturated, aggressive crunch with tight low-end, present mids, and articulate pick attack

Amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

CHANNELMetal amp model (closest to JCM800 high-gain voicing)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Reverb	1
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Spark 40's Metal model approximates the JCM800's saturated midrange punch. Gain dropped from the original 7.5 to 6 because the Strandberg's humbuckers are hotter and more modern-voiced than a vintage Les Paul PAF. Mid pushed +0.5 to compensate for the Spark's slightly scooped digital voicing vs the JCM800's natural mid-forward character. Treble reduced by 1 because the Strandberg's brighter tonewoods and pickups add high-end the Les Paul lacks.

PRO TIPPalm-mute the galloping eighth-note sections with your hand positioned closer to the bridge saddles than usual—this keeps the low strings tight and percussive without losing note definition, which is critical to this riff's aggressive pump.

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These settings are for a Positive Grid Spark 40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.