GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Children of the Grave Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath · 1970s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1965 Gibson SG Special (heavily modified, likely with P-90 pickups, used by Tony Iommi on Master of Reality)
Pickups
Gibson P-90 single coils (stock or modified, as per era and photos from sessions)
Amp
Laney Supergroup Mk I (100W, early 1970s, used for Master of Reality sessions)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1971, Master of Reality album. Guitar tuned down to C# standard. No evidence of live/touring gear or later signature models used on this recording.
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass5.5
Gain6.5
Reverb0
Treble7.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster (or similar, era-correct) · boost
Guitar → Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster → Laney Supergroup Mk I (no reverb, no effects loop)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- thick and saturated fuzz
- tight, percussive palm-muted riffing
- aggressive upper-midrange bite
- raw and heavy
- compressed, singing sustain
- articulate note separation
- British amp crunch
- dark, downtuned power
- minimal bass muddiness
- no audible reverb or delay
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings for 'Children of the Grave' studio recording found; settings estimated based on era, amp, and genre using multiple sources.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects (delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, reverb) on the original studio riff; all effects inferred from sources and audio.
- Some forum users claim 'bass at 0', but this is likely an exaggeration for home rigs; typical Laney Supergroup settings for Iommi are mids and treble high, bass moderate.
- Pedal model for treble boost not confirmed for this exact session, but Dallas Rangemaster or similar treble booster is widely cited for early Sabbath.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Tony Iommi's 'Children of the Grave' tone is classic early 70s British crunch: moderate gain, strong mids (Laney amps, humbuckers), balanced bass and treble, and a dry, punchy sound with no reverb. The settings reflect his preference for mid-forward, thick, riff-driven tones typical of early Sabbath.