GuitarDistortedRiff
Black Hole Sun Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Soundgarden
Soundgarden · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Guild S-100
Pickups
Guild HB-1 humbuckers (microphonic, stock on S-100)
Amp
Late-Seventies Marshall Model 1987 JMP 50-watt Lead head (blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo head)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1994. Both Marshall JMP 50 and Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo heads were blended for the main riff. The Leslie Model 16 rotating speaker cabinet was used for the signature modulation effect. Guitar is confirmed as Guild S-100 for riff section by Kim Thayil.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb1.5
Treble5.5
Presence4
Effects Chain
- Leslie Model 16 rotating speaker cabinet · modulation
Guild S-100 (bridge pickup) → Leslie Model 16 rotating speaker (fast speed) → Marshall JMP 50/Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier (blended) → 4x12 cabs
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Tone Character
- warbly and swirling modulation
- bright and jangly
- defined string attack
- ambient and psychedelic
- open-string drone resonance
- moderate overdrive
- not overly compressed
- dynamic and expressive
- sitar-like ambient effect
- full-bodied with bottom-end girth