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Cherub Rock — The Smashing Pumpkins1 / 2
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Cherub Rock Solo Guitar Tone Settings — The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1988 Fender Stratocaster (modded with Lace Sensor pickups)
Pickups
Lace Sensor Blue (neck), Silver (middle), Red (bridge)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (modded with KT88 power tubes)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Lace Sensor Red)

Studio recording, 1993. Billy Corgan used a Strat with Lace Sensors into a JCM800 (KT88s) for Siamese Dream. The solo section is heavily layered but the main solo track uses this setup. Effects are primarily pedals, not amp-based. Settings are estimated based on era, genre, and typical JCM800 use for this song.

Amp Settings

Mids
7.5
Bass
6
Gain
8
Reverb
2
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Op-Amp version) · fuzz
  • MXR Phase 90 · phaser
  • Flanger pedal (model unknown, likely tape flanger or Mutron Bi-Phase) · flanger

Fender Stratocaster (Lace Sensor Red bridge pickup) → Big Muff Pi (Op-Amp) → MXR Phase 90 → Flanger (tape or Mutron Bi-Phase) → Marshall JCM800 (KT88s, light spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • massive, saturated fuzz
  • singing sustain
  • rich harmonic overtones
  • wall-of-sound layering
  • liquid lead tone
  • midrange-forward
  • slightly compressed attack
  • flanged/phased modulation swirl
  • tight low end
  • cutting, present highs

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings for the studio recording found; settings estimated based on typical JCM800 use for 1990s alternative rock and forum consensus.
  • ⚠️Exact pedal settings not available; pedal models confirmed by multiple sources.
  • ⚠️Solo section is heavily layered in studio; main solo tone described here.
  • ⚠️Some sources reference live rigs or modern pedalboard variants—only studio-era gear included.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Billy Corgan's 'Cherub Rock' solo tone is saturated, mid-forward, and aggressive, reflecting his use of high-gain Marshall amps (JCM800/900) with mids pushed for cut and sustain, moderate bass for clarity, and restrained reverb typical of early '90s alternative rock production.

Sources