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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
Notes & Caveats
- Amp settings are averaged from both the Marshall JMP 50 and Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier as both were blended in the studio for the riff section. Mesa settings: Gain 5, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 5, Presence 2; Marshall settings: Presence 4, Bass 5, Middle 8, Treble 6. Averaged for most accurate representation.
- No reverb was used on the amp or in the pedal chain for the riff section; the ambient effect is from the Leslie/rotary speaker.
- Guitar confirmed as Guild S-100 for riff by Kim Thayil; Gretsch Duo Jet was Chris Cornell's, not used for this riff.
- No evidence of delay, reverb, or other time-based effects in the riff section; all modulation is from the Leslie/rotary effect.
- If using a pedal to replicate the Leslie, a chorus/vibrato pedal (e.g., Boss CE-2W or Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere) is recommended.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kim Thayil's 'Black Hole Sun' riff tone is a thick, mid-forward, slightly fuzzy crunch typical of 90s grunge, likely using a Marshall or Vox-style amp with moderate gain, strong mids, and controlled highs. The production is not overly bright or scooped, and the reverb is subtle, matching the song's psychedelic, enveloping feel.