Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) Rig

Hard Rock Alice in Chains Jerry Cantrell

Jerry Cantrell’s tone is the blueprint for grunge/alt-metal guitar: thick, mid-forward, slightly dark, with killer sustain, heavy riffing, and atmospheric leads. He blends multiple amps for a huge, layered sound and has long favored simple, battle-worn guitars with a single humbucker. His pedalboard has grown over the years into a large, complex setup, but the core elements (Cry Baby wah, graphic EQ, chorus, and talk box) have remained consistent since the Dirt era.

Note: The ~$27,000+ total reflects all listed gear options on this page (multiple guitars including signature Rampage and Wino Les Paul, Friedman + Bogner amps, full pedalboard, and multiple cabinet choices). A real-world core Jerry Cantrell-style rig can be built for significantly less (see Budget Alternatives below). Prices are current Reverb averages and fluctuate.

~$25,224 Estimated total

18 Pieces of gear

Hard Rock Genre / style

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Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) Rig — Photo by Søren Fuglede Jørgense / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Guitars

Main G&L Guitar

G&L Rampage

G&L Tribute Series Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature with Ebony Fretboard 2010 - 2018 - Ivory BAND SIGNED

His absolute signature and most iconic guitar (especially the original “Blue Dress” from the mid-80s with pin-up stickers and heavy wear). Single humbucker (originally Seymour Duncan JB, later custom Motor City or Fishman Fluence in newer models). He still uses multiple vintage and signature Rampages live.

$8,000

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Gibson Les Paul "Wino"

Gibson Custom Shop Jerry Cantrell Signature "Wino" Les Paul Custom (Signed, Aged) 2021 - Present - Wine Red

His wine-red Les Paul signature model (Epiphone version widely available (shown below), with limited Gibson Custom Shop runs). Used for thicker, warmer rhythms and leads.

$8,800

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Epiphone "Wino"

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell "Wino" Les Paul Custom 2022 - Present - Wine Red W/Dimarzio Tone Zone.

Epiphone version of Jerry Cantrell's signature Gibson "Wino" guitar.

$799

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Gibson Flying V

Gibson Les Paul Flying V

Gibson Flying V 2018

Jerry is often seen playing a Gibson Flying V on stage with Alice in Chains and his Jerry Cantrell originals.

$1,499

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Aplifiers

Jerry is known for blending multiple amps. While the Friedman JJ series was his main signature amp for over a decade, he has recently leaned more into his classic Bogner Fish and Shiva setups on tour.

Friedman JJ-100

Friedman JJ-100 Jerry Cantrell Signature 2-Channel 100-Watt Guitar Amp Head with Boost 2015 - Present - Black

His long-running signature amp (co-designed with Dave Friedman). Marshall-style British overdrive with excellent clarity and dynamics.

$2,800

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Friedman JJ Junior

Friedman JJ-Junior Jerry Cantrell Signature 2-Channel 20-Watt Guitar Amp Head 2019 - Present - Black

This is a smaller 20W version of the signature Jerry Cantrell Friedman amplifier head.

$1,450

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Pedalboard

Jerry runs a large, MIDI-controlled pedalboard combined with rack effects for maximum flexibility and layering. His board emphasizes midrange push, atmosphere, and dynamics rather than heavy distortion (most gain comes from the amps).