Under the Bridge amp settings — Fender Deluxe Reverb
The Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar tone for “Under the Bridge”, dialed in for a Fender Deluxe Reverb with a Squier Contemporary Stratocaster. Studio version, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
1962 Fender Stratocaster (neck pickup) → Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble → Marshall Major 200W / Plexi (clean, low volume) with room reverb from The Mansion studio
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 5 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Presence | 0 |
| Reverb | 3 |
| Master | 4 |
01Chorus (Boss CE-2 / CE-5 / any analog chorus)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This is essential to the tone. A Boss CE-5, MXR Analog Chorus, or even a TC Electronic Corona will get you there. Set for slow, subtle movement — not seasick wobble.
Your Deluxe Reverb is actually closer to the original's clean, round character than a modern Marshall would be — Frusciante ran his Marshall completely clean, which is the Deluxe Reverb's natural state. I dropped treble from the Marshall reference settings (-2) because the Deluxe Reverb's treble shelf sits higher and your Squier's ceramic pickups are brighter than a '62 Strat's vintage-wound singles. The Deluxe Reverb's built-in spring reverb substitutes for The Mansion's room ambience — set conservatively.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Fender Deluxe Reverb. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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