Black Hole Sun — Soundgarden1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo

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

Mids
7
Bass
5.5
Gain
6.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
5.5
Presence
4

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

Sources