GuitarDistortedRiff
Fell On Black Days Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Soundgarden
Soundgarden · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Guild S-100
Pickups
Guild HB-1 humbuckers (microphonic, vintage spec)
Amp
Marshall JMP 50 half stack blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo half stack
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1993-1994 (Superunknown sessions). Kim Thayil used the Guild S-100 with bridge pickup for the main riff. Amps were blended Marshall JMP 50 and Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier. Chorus effect was used in the studio for the riff. No evidence of fuzz/distortion pedals for the riff section; gain from amp. Drop D tuning.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb2
Treble6
Presence4.5
Effects Chain
- Chorus pedal (likely Ibanez CS9 Stereo Chorus) · chorus
Guild S-100 (bridge pickup) → Chorus pedal (likely Ibanez CS9) → Marshall JMP 50 half stack + Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo half stack (blended, with light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- thick and warm
- organic, full-bodied crunch
- brighter bridge pickup attack
- ambient, sitar-like overtones from microphonic pickups
- chorus shimmer
- droning open strings
- dynamic and riff-oriented
- not compressed or squashed
- not thin or clean
- slightly ambient due to chorus effect