Tone library / Red Hot Chili Peppers / Give It Away

Give It Away amp settings — Ampeg SVT Classic

The Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar tone for “Give It Away”, dialed in for a Ampeg SVT Classic with a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Jazz Bass. Studio version, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)

Original rig

Wal Mach II 4-string bass, Gallien-Krueger 800RB head, Mesa/Boogie road cabs, direct console blending (no pedals)

Punchy, aggressive fingerstyle attack with dry, articulate upper-mid bite and tight low-end
Amp settings — Ampeg SVT Classic
BRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 6 BASS 6 MID 7 TREBLE 7 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble7
Reverb0
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge+middle TONE9 VOLUME10
Why these settings

Flea recorded Blood Sugar Sex Magik using the aggressive, high-headroom transient attack of a Gallien-Krueger 800RB and active Wal Mach II electronics. To replicate that snappy punch on an all-tube Ampeg SVT-CL, set the Mid Frequency selector switch to position 3 (800 Hz) and push the Mid and Treble knobs up to 7 while keeping Bass at 6 so the low end remains punchy rather than boomy. Running both pickups open on the Jazz Bass provides the scooped attack clarity while the 800 Hz boost delivers the signature mid bark.

PRO TIPPluck aggressively with hard fingerstyle right over or slightly behind the bridge pickup rather than over the neck pickup to get the percussive string click and clean downward slide definition.

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

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