Alice in Chains

Alice in Chains formed in Seattle in 1987, with Jerry Cantrell building one of grunge's most distinctive guitar tones through a partnership with amp designer Reinhold Bogner. Cantrell's primary guitar was a G&L Rampage — a stripped-down single-pickup, single-knob instrument on which he recorded most of the band's iconic songs. His Marshall JCM800 heads, modified by Bogner for the Facelift and Dirt sessions, anchored his early sound, while the Bogner Fish Preamp became the cornerstone of his studio and live tone for years. The Bogner Shiva — an 80-watt, two-channel head — served as Cantrell's primary amplifier through the band's later period, its dynamic response matching his ability to shift between clean arpeggios and crushing power chords. A pre-production Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier prototype contributed to Dirt's legendary guitar tone. Gibson Les Paul Customs provided tonal variety alongside the Rampage, while a Dunlop Cry Baby Wah and EHX Big Muff Pi added texture and fuzz. The precision of Cantrell's gear choices — each element carefully paired and voiced — reflected the meticulous craftsmanship beneath Alice in Chains' dark, heavy exterior.