Black Night — Deep Purple1 / 2
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Black Night Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Deep Purple

Deep Purple · 1970s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (1968-69, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, stock single-coil pickups, likely with scalloped fretboard)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (stock 1960s Stratocaster pickups)
Amp
Marshall Major (200-watt, model 1967, 'Plexi' head, likely with Marshall 4x12 cabinet, Celestion speakers)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1970. Ritchie Blackmore used his late-60s Stratocaster into a Marshall Major amp for the 'Black Night' solo. No evidence of additional pedals or effects on the studio solo except for possible fuzz. No chorus, delay, or reverb effects are audible or documented for the solo section. Sola Sound Tone Bender Professional MKII fuzz pedal was used by Blackmore in this era and is likely present on the solo. No evidence of effects loop or amp reverb.

Amp Settings

Mids
7.5
Bass
6.5
Gain
6.5
Reverb
1
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Sola Sound Tone Bender Professional MKII · fuzz

Fender Stratocaster → Sola Sound Tone Bender Professional MKII → Marshall Major amp → Marshall 4x12 cabinet

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Tone Character

  • classic British crunch
  • fuzzy sustain on lead lines
  • biting upper mids
  • tight low end
  • articulate single notes
  • dynamic pick attack
  • slight compression from fuzz
  • no audible reverb or delay
  • aggressive bridge pickup
  • vintage Stratocaster clarity

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio knob settings for 'Black Night' solo found; amp settings estimated based on typical Marshall Major usage by Blackmore in 1970 and classic rock conventions.
  • ⚠️Sola Sound Tone Bender Professional MKII fuzz pedal is cited as used by Blackmore in this era, but not explicitly confirmed for 'Black Night' solo; included due to strong era/gear match and audible fuzz character.
  • ⚠️No evidence of delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, or reverb in the solo section; solo is dry except for amp/pedal distortion.
  • ⚠️Pickup position inferred from typical Blackmore lead tone and solo sound (bright, biting, bridge pickup).
  • ⚠️No evidence of effects loop or amp-based effects used in the studio recording.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Ritchie Blackmore in 1970 used a Strat into a cranked Marshall Major, favoring a crunchy, mid-forward British rock tone with moderate gain, strong mids, and balanced treble. The solo is present and punchy but not overly saturated or reverberant, matching classic hard rock conventions of the era.

Sources