A Forest amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40
The The Cure guitar tone for “A Forest”, dialed in for a Positive Grid Spark 40 with a Gibson ES-335. Studio version, Seventeen Seconds (1980)
Fender Jazzmaster (with Teisco middle pickup) → Boss BF-2 Flanger → Roland JC-120 (stereo chorus engaged) → tape delay
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 2 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 5 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Presence | 4 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 6 |
01Boss GT-1000 — Flanger Block (BF-2 type)
Set to envelope/touch-sensitive mode if available — the original used flangers triggered by signal dynamics, not constant sweep
02Boss GT-1000 — Chorus Block (CE-1 or JC-120 Chorus type)
This is the core of the tone — always on, lush stereo chorus. Stack with flanger for the swirling atmosphere
03Boss GT-1000 — Delay Block (Tape Delay type)
Use analog/tape delay model for warble and degradation — the original used tape machine delays with wow and flutter
Your ES-335's humbuckers are warmer and darker than Smith's Jazzmaster single coils, so I raised treble +1 and kept mid flat to compensate. The neck humbucker with tone at 7 approximates the Jazzmaster's rounder neck-position voicing without getting muddy. The Spark's clean amp model stays pristine — all character comes from the GT-1000's modulation and delay blocks.
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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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