Mark Tremonti isn’t just a guitarist; he’s a genre-bending powerhouse whose tone has shaped decades of rock and metal. From Creed’s stadium anthems to the technical firepower of Alter Bridge and now the velvet swing of his Sinatra project, Tremonti’s evolution is matched only by his commitment to killer gear.
We caught up with Tremonti backstage during Creed’s Summer of '99 tour to dive deep into his live rig, guitar collection, PRS collaborations, and surprisingly soulful side quests. Plus his stories from 5150 Studios, his friendship with Wolfgang Van Halen, and a growing pinball machine obsession all make for one awesome evening. Check out the interview now!
Mark Tremonti’s Rig Deep Dive
When it comes to dialing in his live tone, Mark Tremonti doesn’t leave anything to chance. His current touring rig runs three amplifiers simultaneously, blending analog warmth with modern precision and features a pedalboard that balances utility with tonal artistry. Oh and it’s not just loud – it’s an engineered sonic boom.
Mark Tremonti’s Amps
PRS MT 100: Mark’s signature three-channel amp, delivering pristine cleans, and a massive high-gain tone. “I needed something that could go from my home studio to the arena.” This amp gives Mark everything he needs, like massive headroom, sweet overdrive, and all the gain a guy could ever ask for.
Synergy Modular Amps: Loaded with preamp modules like the SL2 (for dirty tones) and the Synergy TDLX 2 (for cleans) Tremonti praises Synergy for their flexibility and partnership with brands like Mesa, Fender, and Soldano.
EVH Eddie Van Halen 5150 III 50W 6L6: Brought into the mix during Alter Bridge pre-production at 5150 Studios. Mark loves its bite and fullness, especially paired with the MT 100.
Each cab is mic’d up with a Shure SM57 and an SE ribbon mic, though only the 57 is fed to his in-ears.
Tremonti’s Guitar Effects and Signal Chain Highlights:
Mark Tremonti rocks a serious pedalboard. To go through every nuance would be an hour-long read (which we totally would). But we’ll boil it down to the highlights for anyone curious to see how Tremonti shapes his guitar tone:
- Morley Bad Horsie Wah Pedal
- RJM Mastermind GT (controller)
- Boss OC-5 Octave Pedal
- DigiTech Drop
- Empress Compressor
- J Rockett PXO (clean side only)
- Wampler Tumnus
- Dunlop Univibe UV1
- MXR Smart Gate
- G-Lab Smooth Delay SD-1
- Kikusui Voltage Regulator
However, the most surprising addition to Mark Tremonti's live rig is a Quad Cortex modeler hidden in his pedal drawer. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," says Tremonti. He's been playing with the modeler as an addition to his live rig just to see what all the fuss is about, but he's still a tube amp guy all the way — at least for now...
DigiTech Drop Compact Polyphonic Drop Tune Guitar Pedal
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Mark Tremonti’s Favorite Guitars
For someone who plays through three amps at once, Tremonti keeps his guitar choices surprisingly personal. Each one isn’t just tuned for tone but tied to a moment, a memory, or a milestone in his career.
PRS SE Tremonti Signature Charcoal Burst: His first one, now adorned with a sticker of Dimebag Darrell after a fan was handing them out in tribute after his passing.
Stella: A custom design Tremonti co-created with Paul Reed Smith. From a scratch drawing on a white board to the scratches he wore through the finish and into the wood of the guitar from playing it so much — a true sign of love!
Burst: This PRS model is Tremonti’s go-to for songs like “Blackbird” or any other song he needs to play in standard tuning.
Sinatra, Singing & Side Projects
From Alter Bridge to serenading crowds with Sinatra’s classics, Tremonti has carved out a surprisingly rich vocal journey. Though he once doubted his voice, confidence and songwriting led him to embrace the mic. Tremonti talks about how he feels more free singing than all that pressure from playing the guitar! Now he loves Karaoke bars and will sing in front of anyone.
He’s even learning jazz voicing on the guitar, so he can accompany himself live. Just don't expect a shredding solo in the middle of “Fly Me to the Moon.”
Tremonti and Paul Reed Smith
“I am proud to call Paul a dear friend. Paul hasn’t changed since the day I met him… He’s just as excitable. He doesn’t sit back and let people run his company.”
The PRS and Tremonti duo goes back over 20 years. Together they have built signature guitars and industry-praised amps like the MT15, which started as a lunchbox-style experiment and became one of the most talked-about amps in its class. Mark admits he’s an amp fanatic but alerted PRS that he can’t be tied down to just one amp. “I didn’t want to create a signature product that I'd be required to only play. After seeing the rise of the lunchbox style amp he collaborated with PRS to build something that looked small but sounded massive.
Even through career shifts they tested out rare microphones together for Mark’s Sinatra recordings. When Mark was deep into vocal mic research, Paul pulled out a rare Sheffield Labs microphone — one of only a few dozen ever made. Mark said it destroyed every other mic in the studio.
“I begged Paul to sell it to me. He said no… but then found another one and said I could have it.”
Pinball Machines: Mark Tremonti’s Latest Obsession
When he’s not melting faces or crooning jazz standards, Tremonti is racking up high scores on his ever-growing pinball machine collection. He works closely with huge pinball companies like Stern and Jersey Jack, and he even snagged a rare Pirates of the Caribbean machine designed by his friend Eric. He’s clearly more than a casual player with a pocket full of quarters!
“The Holy Grail? For me, it’s Medieval Madness. I’ve got the royal edition at home.”
Mark says while vintage machines like KISS from the 70’s look cool, the modern machines are where the magic is. Right now he is waiting on the new Evil Dead pinball machine, and he just played Jersey Jack’s Elton John machine and said, “The new Elton John machine? One of the most impressive I’ve played in a long time.”
Mark’s love for pinball runs on the same fuel as his music: craft, nostalgia, and the pursuit of mastery whether it’s tone or tilt.
Recording at 5150 Studios
For Tremonti, recording at 5150 Studios wasn’t just a studio session; it was a pilgrimage. He and Alter Bridge became the first band outside of the Van Halen family to ever track music in Eddie’s iconic studio, and the weight of that moment wasn’t lost on him.
Surrounded by tools and energy that shaped rock history, Mark found himself immersed in Eddie’s legacy. It was there that he first fell in love with the EVH 5150III 50W amp – after hearing Myles Kennedy play through it – and Wolfgang Van Halen later gifted him one to take on tour.
For Tremonti, Eddie wasn’t just an influence; he was a presence. And being in that space, playing through that gear, felt like a moment of connection that transcended music.
Mark Tremonti: More Than a Guitar Hero
Mark Tremonti is proof that evolution doesn’t mean abandoning your roots. It means expanding them. Whether he’s pushing the boundaries of live music with three amps on stage, honoring legends like Dimebag and EVH, or singing Sinatra tunes, Mark is doing what he’s always done — chasing greatness with heart and precision.
From signature PRS guitars to pinball machines and modular amp rigs, everything Tremonti touches becomes part of a bigger picture — one where sound, feel and soul are always in sync.
Huge thanks to Mark for letting AMS behind the curtain, and another huge thanks to PRS for setting it all up. Definitely try to catch Mark on the road with any of his projects, and don’t forget to find all the best PRS gear right here at AMS. And if you liked this interview, subscribe to the AMS YouTube channel for tons more content just like this!
