Sound Like Rammstein: Amp Settings and Gear Guide

Rammstein is an aggressive Industrial Metal band that has one specific sound. It has caught the attention of music lovers worldwide.

Their guitar tone is biting and thick, but smooth at the same time. As guitarists who like heavier music, this tone is appealing and sought after by many players.

In this Killer Rig guide, we will look at not only their gear, but the best Rammstein amp settings. This way, you can get as close to this sound as possible.

What Is The Rammstein Sound?

The Rammstein sound is characterized by aggressive, heavy distortion. Combined with a relatively goth-style tone. This combination gives their music a unique sound that is both intense and catchy at the same time.

To get this sound, you will typically need to use a high-gain guitar amp. One that is paired with some distortion or boost pedals.

Some quick Rammstein amp settings are:

• Gain: 8
• Treble: 7
• Mids: 4
• Bass: 6
• Presence: 6

These are just a starting point, and you may need to adjust them to taste depending on your amp, guitar, and pedals.

Now let’s take a look at what type of gear Rammstein uses to get their signature sound.

Rammstein Amp Settings

Recreating the Rammstein sound is more than just gear. The right amp settings are crucial, as well as knowing how to use them.

Gain Knob

The gain knob is not just for distortion. It can also be used to shape the clarity and definition of your tone. So experiment with different settings on this knob to find what sounds best for you.

While you need a high amount of saturation, this can also muddy up your sound in a hurry.

So a good balance between distortion and bass is key, which can go either way. And because all gear is radically different. You will need to experiment with the right amount of gain.

Check out our Meshuggah amp settings after this guide!

Treble, Mid, and Bass

Your equalization settings are also very important, and this can take time to learn how to dial in.

1. Setting the right amount of bass can be tricky with a thick-sounding amplifier. Adjusting this knob correctly will either result in a thick punch, or a muddy mess.
2. Your middle control will help you create a more thick tone, or if you prefer, a scooped one. In the case of Rammstein, you will want to keep this setting lower. Find the sweet spot with experimentation.
3. The treble control is important for clarity and the much-needed bite. But too much can result in a very harsh sound, so try not to overdo it.

Popular Rammstein Songs and Their Amp Settings

Once the amp settings and how they affect your tone is understood, it’s time to try some of their most popular songs.

Du Hast

• Gain: 8
• Treble: 7
• Mids: 4
• Bass: 6
• Presence: 7

Du hast is one of their signature songs and the perfect example of their sound. The intro riff is thick and distorted, but still very clear.

This is a great song to start with because it has a few different parts that you can use to dial in your tone. The riffs are very saturated with a lot of bite, but it sounds good, which is why this song is so popular.

So if you are having trouble getting the right amount of distortion, start with this song. It will give you a good idea of where to start.

Try our Bullet for my Valentine amp settings here!

Feuer Frei

• Gain: 8
• Treble: 6
• Mids: 5
• Bass: 6
• Presence: 5

Feuer Frei is another great song that has a lot of distorted guitar work. The intro riff is different from Du Hast and isn’t quite as treble-heavy.

This song also has a few different parts that you can use to experiment with your tone. The heavier parts are very saturated but still have good clarity. They are much thicker, which shows you the versatility of Rammstein’s sound.

You can also experiment with the EQ on this song to get a good idea of how it affects your tone. The intro riff is a good example of how adjusting the mids control can change the sound of your guitar.

Get Dimebag Darrell amp settings here.

Ich Will

• Gain: 7
• Treble: 6
• Mids: 5
• Bass: 5
• Presence: 4

Ich Will is a good example of how Rammstein uses dynamics in their music. The electronic edge with the heavy guitars makes for a great Industrial sound.

Learn more about metal amp settings here!

Gear Needed For A Rammstein Sound

The guitars that Rammstein uses are fairly standard for the genre. Get your hands on the following types of gear, and you will get close to their sound.

1. Rammstein typically used guitars from ESP and Gibson. Paul Landers has a signature model with Gibson, and Richard Van Kruspe is a big ESP fan. Your guitar needs to have an output with the same intensity. Some good humbuckers with bite will do it all day.
2. Thick, heavy distortion from an amplifier like the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier is a must. Now, there are a few different amps that can pull this sound off, even some digital modelers, so you do have options. Aim for a model that can get close to this tone.
3. Distortion and boost pedals are necessary to help keep your tone aggressive. All while staying tight at the same time. There are many good units available that can push your amp harder.

Rammstein Tone Setting Tips

Every guitar and amp will respond different. So some sounds can be hard to get right. Here are a few things you should consider when setting up your gear.

• High levels of gain are needed for saturated sounds. But sometimes things fall apart quickly. If your amp is very muddy sounding with intense feedback, turn down your gain.
• If your bite has turned to harshness, turn down your treble control. A very thin sound can resort from high treble settings.
• Experiment with your guitar’s tone control knob as well. This can warm things up when your brightness is too extreme.
• If your sound is indeed too muddy, try reducing your bass setting. Thickness can also be obtained with higher mid-control settings.
• Experiment with different pickup positions for certain sounds. The bridge pickup is going to have more bite and less bass than the neck.
• If your amplifier doesn’t have the jam to give you a saturated sound, try a distortion pedal. This can be a quick fix to any electric guitar tone.

Conclusion

Rammstein has a unique sound that is industrial, yet still melodic. To create this tone, you will need high levels of gain with thick distortion.

The key to nailing this tone is to experiment with your settings until you find what sounds good to you. Every amp and guitar is different, so don’t be afraid to make extreme adjustments as needed.

Remember to always keep an eye on your amp’s gain, treble, and bass controls.

FAQs

What amps does Rammstein use?

Rammstein typically uses Mesa/Boogie amplifiers, like the Dual Rectifier series. They also use Kemper and Soldano amps as well.

Some players have reported using different brands. Including solid-state and digital modeling. So it’s important to experiment with a variety of options to find your ideal tone.

What guitars does Rammstein use?

Rammstein uses a variety of different guitars, but their mainstay is the Gibson Les Paul. Other popular choices include the ESP RZK-I and the KH-4.