Tone library / Three Days Grace / Break

Break amp settings — Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18

The Three Days Grace guitar tone for “Break”, dialed in for a Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 with a Greg bennet D-1SN. Studio version, One-X album (2006)

Original rig

Diezel VH4 head, Ibanez Custom Shop baritone/SZ series guitars, minimal effects — raw amp distortion with DI tracking for re-amping

Aggressive, tight high-gain with sharp attack, slightly scooped mids, punchy low-end in drop tuning
Amp settings — Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18
CHANNELLead channel (high-gain)BRIGHToffBOOSTon
GAIN 7 BASS 6 MID 4 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 5 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass6
Mid4
Treble6
Presence5
Reverb0
Master5
Don’t have a Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Tube Screamer style OD (TS9 / TS808 clone)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Use as a clean boost to tighten low-end and add pick attack clarity. The TubeMeister can get close without it, but a TS in front is the studio standard for this tight modern rock sound.

Drive 1 · Tone 5 · Level 7
Why these settings

The Diezel VH4 is darker and more compressed than the TubeMeister 18, which is brighter and more open in the EL84 power section. I've raised bass +1 and cut mids -1 vs a neutral starting point to approximate the VH4's scooped aggression. The TubeMeister's lead channel has plenty of gain, but lacks the VH4's thick compression — a TS-style pedal in front (drive at minimum, level cranked) will tighten the low-end and add that percussive attack.

PRO TIPTune to drop-C or drop-D to match the original's chunk — the Greg Bennett's 25.5" scale will feel loose in drop-C, so use heavier strings (12-54 minimum). Palm-mute hard directly over the bridge saddles, not further up the strings, to get that tight 'chug' without flubbing out.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play
More tones for the Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18
Bloody AngelAvatarSixpounderChildren of BodomMisery BusinessParamoreDo I Wanna Know?Arctic Monkeys
Find your amp
Browse
Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Break on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Three Days Grace tonesALL SONGS Tone libraryEVERYTHING

Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.

Get ToneAdapt — first match free