Hey amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII
The Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar tone for “Hey”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 50 MkII with a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster. Studio version, Stadium Arcadium (2006) — main lead/chords
1962 Fender Stratocaster (neck pickup) + Marshall Major 200W / Marshall Silver Jubilee + EHX Holy Grail Reverb + Boss CE-1 preamp color
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Reverb | 4 |
| Master | 5 |
01Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer
Provides gentle compression and pickup snap without squashing dynamics
The Crunch voice on the Katana 50 MkII emulates John's Marshall Major pushed right at the edge of breakup, providing touch-sensitive crunch when digging in. The CS-3 is dialed subtly to match the natural compression of Frusciante's Boss CE-1 preamp, while the Katana's onboard spring reverb emulates his Holy Grail. Fuzz and overdrive are left bypassed to preserve the expressive, clean dynamic required throughout the track. (Solo dynamic: dig into the strings or roll guitar volume full to let the Crunch voice sing).
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These settings are for a Boss Katana 50 MkII. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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