Get this tone on your rig
Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Ginn tracks the opening riff using a down‑stroked bridge‑pickup lead through a cranked Marshall JTM45, letting the amp’s natural tube distortion shape the tone. The guitar sits front‑center, dry, with no added effects, preserving the raw aggression of the performance.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
1975 Fender Telecaster
Guitar
Greg Ginn’s raw, single‑note attack on a 1975 Fender Telecaster drives the aggressive riff of “Rise Above,” with the bridge pickup set high to bite through the mix.
Marshall JTM45 (c. 1960s)
Amp
The Telecaster’s signal was cranked through a vintage Marshall JTM45, its warm tube breakup giving the track its signature snarling edge.
Alternatives
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
Budget alternative · for the 1975 Fender Telecaster
Marshall DSL40CR
Modern equivalent · for the Marshall JTM45 (c. 1960s)
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Use the bridge pickup and roll the tone knob to full.
- 2.Attack each chord with hard down‑strokes for maximum aggression.
- 3.Set your amp’s volume high enough to push the tubes into natural overdrive.
- 4.Pick with a medium‑stiff pick to maintain articulation.
- 5.Avoid reverb or delay to keep the tone raw.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Rise Above guitar tone?
The available research points to 1975 Fender Telecaster into Marshall JTM45 (c. 1960s). The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Rise Above amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Rise Above in?
The current research record lists Standard (E A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Rise Above tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
