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Big Bang Baby — Stone Temple Pilots1 / 2
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Big Bang Baby Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Stone Temple Pilots

Stone Temple Pilots · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Special
Pickups
Gibson P-90 single-coil
Amp
1966 Marshall 18-watt 2x10 combo
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1995-1996. Dean DeLeo confirmed in interview that the '57 Les Paul TV Special into the '66 Marshall 18-watt combo was used for 'Big Bang Baby' riff section. Minimal overdubbing, mostly one guitar track. No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; Dean emphasizes the guitar-amp pairing as the main tone source.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
6
Reverb
1
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • raw and mid-forward crunch
  • open and dynamic attack
  • slightly gritty edge
  • articulate single-coil clarity
  • punchy and percussive rhythm
  • minimal compression
  • organic amp breakup
  • tight, focused low end
  • present upper mids
  • no audible modulation or time-based effects

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No specific numeric amp settings found in sources; amp settings estimated based on typical Marshall 18-watt usage for classic rock crunch and P-90 pairing.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or effects used on the riff section; Dean DeLeo explicitly states the tone is guitar-amp only for this track.
  • ⚠️No mention of amp reverb or built-in effects; Marshall 18-watt combo does not have built-in reverb.
  • ⚠️Pickup selector not explicitly stated, but bridge pickup is most likely based on tone and genre.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Dean DeLeo typically used a crunchy, mid-forward British amp tone (often Marshalls) in the mid-90s, with moderate gain, pronounced mids, and balanced bass/treble for riff clarity. The 'Big Bang Baby' riff is punchy and dry, with little reverb and a classic alt-rock crunch, matching these settings.

Sources