What guitar did Jerry Cantrell use on Rooster?

Jerry Cantrell used a G&L Rampage guitar for the lead parts on 'Rooster'. This guitar featured humbucker pickups that contributed to the thick, dark tone heard on the recording.

How to get Jerry Cantrell's tone on Rooster?

Start with a humbucker-equipped guitar into a high-gain tube amp, using a Tube Screamer-style overdrive pedal as a boost. The key is blending direct input with a miked cabinet and focusing on thick midrange frequencies.

What amp did Alice in Chains use on Rooster?

The lead guitar tone on 'Rooster' was achieved using a Bogner Ecstasy amplifier. This high-gain tube amp was chosen for its ability to produce saturated yet articulate tones.

Did Jerry Cantrell use a Tube Screamer on Rooster?

Yes, an Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer was used to push the Bogner Ecstasy amp into additional saturation. This pedal added compression and midrange focus to the overall guitar tone.

How was Rooster guitar tone recorded?

The guitar was recorded by blending a direct input signal with a Shure SM57 microphone placed on the amplifier cabinet. This technique captured both the clarity of the direct signal and the raw power of the amplified sound.

lead guitar from "rooster" by alice in chains

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Tone Profile

A thick, slightly overdriven guitar tone with a dark and brooding character, perfectly complementing the song's heavy and somber mood.

Shop This Rig

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G&L Rampage(instrument)
Bogner Ecstasy(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808(processing)

The Story

Jerry Cantrell's lead guitar on 'Rooster' was recorded using a G&L Rampage guitar through a Bogner Ecstasy amplifier, with an Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer providing additional drive. The recording setup involved blending a direct input signal with a Shure SM57-miked cabinet to capture both clarity and raw power.

Production Credits

Producer: Dave Jerden

Engineer: Bryan Carlstrom

Recorded at: Eldorado Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: G&L RampageShop on Reverb

Amp: Bogner EcstasyShop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Processing: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a guitar equipped with a humbucker pickup to capture a thick sound.
Use a boost pedal to drive a high-gain amplifier, focusing on midrange frequencies.
Blend a direct input signal with the mic'd amp to achieve a balance between clarity and aggression.
Experiment with microphone placement to capture the desired cabinet sound. A Shure SM57 is a great starting point.

Original Gear

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G&L RampageShop on Reverb(guitar)
Bogner EcstasyShop on Reverb(amp)
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808Shop on Reverb(pedal)
Shure SM57Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

ESP LTD EC-401Shop on Reverb$500-$600

Alternative to: G&L Rampage

Mahogany body with EMG pickups delivers similar thick humbucker tone at a budget price point

Gibson Les Paul StudioShop on Reverb$1,300-$1,500

Alternative to: G&L Rampage

Classic humbucker-equipped guitar that provides the thick, dark tone needed for this sound

EVH 5150 III 50WShop on Reverb$1,000-$1,200

Alternative to: Bogner Ecstasy

High-gain tube amp with articulate saturation and strong midrange character

Neural DSP Fortin NamelessPlugin Boutique$130-$150

Alternative to: Bogner Ecstasy

Modern high-gain plugin that captures thick, saturated tones with excellent note definition

Boss SD-1 Super OverdriveShop on Reverb$50-$70

Alternative to: Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer

Budget alternative that provides similar midrange boost and compression to push the amp

Ibanez TS9 Tube ScreamerShop on Reverb$100-$120