GuitarDistortedRiff
Black Magic Woman Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Santana
Santana · 1970s · blues
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson SG Special (1968, stock P-90s, cherry finish)
Pickups
Gibson P-90 single coils
Amp
Fender Princeton Reverb (blackface, late 1960s, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1970 (Abraxas album). Santana used a late-60s Gibson SG Special with P-90s into a Fender Princeton Reverb for the main riff section. Mesa/Boogie amps were not yet in use for this recording. No evidence of additional pedals for the riff section; overdrive comes from amp pushed to breakup. Wah is not used in the riff section, only in solos.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6.5
Gain5.5
Reverb4.5
Treble6
Presence3
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Tone Character
- warm and smooth
- singing sustain
- vocal-like midrange
- touch-sensitive
- slightly overdriven
- fat and round
- clear note separation
- mellow highs
- dynamic and expressive
- not heavily distorted