Depends on the player! If you crank your gain too high, it'll saturate the tone stack! Some guys play like this being obsessed with gobs of gain! Others will fiddle with the tone knobs for years! They are actually quite versatile amps! For example: a change of Treble settings from 1:00-1:30 can definitely be heard! The Presence control will affect the Bass response, and can be used in conjunction with the Mid control! Plug and Play? Depends on the player! I've had mine for six years, and the settings now are some I've never used!