Guitar Amp Presence Setting

**Hank.T.Tone** · 02-27-2025, 08:34 PM

I'd like to know how everyone sets the "presence" on their amps for a clean warm jazz sound.

I know much depends on the amp, but would still like to know across the board, and perhaps the reason for your preference.

I'm debating just where to set mine on both a Mesa Boogie Express 5:25 (clean channel) and Fishman Loudbox.

I tend to disfavor presence because of course it boosts the high end but maybe there's a way to dial some in with some finesse.

Thanks much!

**starjasmine** · 02-28-2025, 03:16 AM

Presence is the tippy-top of the treble spectrum. It's especially useful for glassy, single-coil sounds, blues, rock, and some pop tones. It helps to drive THD in overdriven tones.

For jazz, I like a pretty dark tone, so my presence setting in that situation is minimal. Like, set on, 1-2-ish when I'm just plugging straight into the tube amp from the neck pickup. I turn presence up just enough to add a little bit of articulation to the attack without over-emphasizing the sound of the pick.

TBH, there's no "correct" setting. You've got to use your ears to get the sound you want from your guitar, your strings, your picking technique, your amp, anything else that might be in the signal chain, and the room.

But I hope this helps, somewhat.

**Litterick** · 02-28-2025, 03:37 AM

A clean, warm, jazz sound? I use the presence for that thin, wild mercury sound.

**JCat** · 02-28-2025, 06:22 AM

Hi Hank,
This would depend on the voicing of the amp and the implementation of the negative feedback loop (NFB). It's not possible to provide any universal recommendation other than this:

Try to replace amp Treble with amp Presence, meaning turn down Treble (set it to zero if you have to) and turn up some Presence. Compare the sound...

Some amps are overly bright, meaning they got much more Treble than you could make use of. In that case; turn both Treble and Presence down. Try to replace Treble with Middle.

Some amps got a Middle knob that's biased towards higher mids, meaning that when turning up Middle the sound becomes much brighter and the amp also becomes prone to distort. Then you may not be able to turn up Middle past halfway to compensate for a low Treble setting. Compensate by turning down Bass. Some amps got a Middle knob biased towards lower mids, in that case try to replace Bass with Middle (same principle, turn down Bass, turn up Middle).

Some amps are balanced towards the brighter spectrum, meaning you really have to turn up some Bass. Again, turn down Treble and presence if you must.

Some amps are heavily mid scooped because of aggressive NFB mid frequency cancellation, meaning they are both boomy and ice spikey at the same time, then you have to roll back both Bass and Treble and you have to be very careful adding any Presence.

In summary: It is not possible to provide generic amp settings, because amps are very, very different.
But here's a thing every player should know: Turn up amp Volume and compensate by backing off guitar Volume and Tone for a warmer sound. If you always keep your guitar controls on full throttle, the sound is going to be bright regardless of amp.

**John A.** · 02-28-2025, 10:49 AM

Cut to the chase: In the Fender amps I've used that have a Presence knob (mainly brownface), I leave it turned all the way down. I had one for a long time and after years of experimentation determined that it might as will be re-labelled "Make Amp Sound Worse" or "Do Not Touch". In other amps, I assume the worst and leave it turned all the way down.