Kryptonite

The recording

Kryptonite was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, in late 1999 with producer Paul Ebersold and engineers Matt Martone and Toby Wright. Guitar parts were performed by Matt Roberts and Chris Henderson using Gibson Les Pauls routed through a high‑gain amp head, producing the thick, mid‑focused crunch heard throughout the track.

Tuning Standard (EADGBE)

Reported gear

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Guitar

Matt Roberts used a Gibson Les Paul Standard for the rhythm and lead parts on Kryptonite, providing the thick humbucker tone that drives the song’s crunchy riff.

Genz Benz El Diablo Head

Amp

The guitar signal was run through a Genz Benz El Diablo high‑gain head, delivering the saturated overdrive heard on the verses and the tighter crunch in the chorus.

Genz Benz GB412 4x12 Cabinet

Cabinet

A matching Genz Benz 4‑x‑12 cabinet was used to project the amp’s high‑gain tone, adding tight low‑end and pronounced mids.

Alternatives

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Budget alternative · for the Gibson Les Paul Standard

$400 to $600

Mesa/Boogie 4x12 Cabinet

Modern equivalent · for the Genz Benz GB412 4x12 Cabinet

$1,000 to $1,500

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Modern equivalent · for the Genz Benz El Diablo Head

$2,000 to $3,000

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Use the bridge humbucker and crank the guitar volume knob to full for maximum crunch.
2. 2.Palm‑mute the low strings on the main riff, letting the amp’s high‑gain saturation fill the gaps.
3. 3.Apply a whole‑step bend on the lead notes during the solo and let them ring without excessive vibrato.
4. 4.Switch to the neck pickup for the smoother, melodic passages in the bridge section.