GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Black Hole Sun Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Soundgarden
Soundgarden · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gretsch Duo Jet (likely 1970s or 1980s, black, with Filter'Tron pickups)
Pickups
Gretsch Filter'Tron humbuckers
Amp
Blended: Late-Seventies Marshall Model 1987 JMP 50-watt Lead head + 1993 Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo head (both into 4x12 cabs)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1993-1994, both amps blended for solo; Gretsch Duo Jet confirmed as the solo guitar; no evidence of live rig for this specific part.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain6.5
Reverb1.5
Treble5.5
Presence4
Effects Chain
- Wah pedal (model unknown) · wah
Gretsch Duo Jet → Wah pedal → Marshall JMP 50 + Mesa Dual Rectifier (blended, no reverb, into 4x12 cabs)
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- psychedelic, swirling solo tone
- thick, saturated lead sound
- distinctive wah sweep
- aggressive, expressive phrasing
- rich harmonic overtones
- moderate compression
- bright attack with dark body
- textured, trippy soundscape
- full-bodied, mid-forward
Notes & Caveats
- Exact pickup selector position not explicitly stated, but bridge pickup is most likely for solo based on tone and era.
- No explicit mention of reverb in amp or pedals for solo; settings reflect amp-only tone.
- Pedal model for wah not confirmed in studio, but wah is clearly audible throughout solo.
- No evidence of delay, chorus, or flanger in solo section; Leslie/rotary effect is used in verse/rhythm, not solo.
- Settings are averaged from both Marshall and Mesa amp settings cited in Guitar World.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kim Thayil's 'Black Hole Sun' solo tone is saturated but not modern high-gain, with a thick midrange and smooth top end typical of a late '60s/early '70s Marshall or Vox amp cranked up. The mids are pushed for vocal sustain, bass is moderate to avoid muddiness, and reverb is subtle, mostly from the room or mix rather than amp.