GuitarDistortedRiff
Geek U.S.A. Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (likely '57 reissue, aka 'Bat Strat')
Pickups
DiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge position, humbucker-sized for Strat), stock Fender single coils (middle/neck)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (with KT-88 power tubes, as per Corgan's interviews for Siamese Dream era)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (DiMarzio Super Distortion)
Studio recording, 1992-1993, Siamese Dream sessions. Gear confirmed for album recording, not live. Corgan used the Bat Strat with a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, into a Marshall JCM800 2203 head with KT-88 tubes. Effects were layered in the studio. No evidence of Creamy Dreamer pedal use on this recording.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp Big Muff Pi · fuzz
- Mu-Tron Bi-Phase · phaser
Fender Stratocaster (bridge humbucker) → Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp Big Muff Pi → Mu-Tron Bi-Phase (studio layering) → Marshall JCM800 2203 (KT-88 tubes)
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Tone Character
- massive, saturated fuzz
- tight and percussive
- compressed, focused low end
- scooped but present mids
- singing sustain
- razor-sharp clarity on chords
- dense, harmonically rich
- aggressive pick attack
- wall-of-sound rhythm guitars
- layered fuzz and distortion