Bad Asteroid amp settings — Donner Arena 2000
The The Aristocrats guitar tone for “Bad Asteroid”, dialed in for a Donner Arena 2000 with a Jackson JS32 Dinky. Studio version, The Aristocrats (2011) — intro clean/edge-of-breakup theme
Suhr Badger 30 / CAA PT-100 into 4x12 (V30s), Charvel/Suhr HSH, transparent boost/compressor, subtle analog delay and plate reverb
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 7 |
01Compressor Block (Studio Comp)
Even out pick attack for fingerstyle and hybrid picking
02Overdrive Block (RC Boost / Pure Boost)
Pushes amp gently into touch-sensitive breakup without squashing dynamics
03Delay Block (Analog / Tape Delay)
Subtle quarter/dotted-eighth ambient pad (approx 380ms)
04Reverb Block (Plate Reverb)
Lush studio space placed post-amp
The Jackson JS32 ceramic humbuckers have a noticeably hotter output and harsher top end than Guthrie's vintage-voiced custom pickups. Rolling the guitar volume back to 7-8 and selecting the split neck/middle position clears the mud and cleans up the input, while raising mids to 6 ensures punchy articulation on the Donner Arena 2000's Boutique model. For the heavier driven sections later in the track, roll the guitar volume to 10 and kick on a higher-gain drive block.
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These settings are for a Donner Arena 2000. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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