GuitarDistortedRiff
Heaven and Hell Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
John Birch Custom SG (24-fret, custom pickups, used by Tony Iommi on Heaven and Hell studio recording)
Pickups
John Birch custom humbuckers (likely Superflux or P-90 style, high output, ceramic magnet)
Amp
Modified Marshall Super Lead 1959 (modded by John 'Dawk' Stillwell, extra tube and master gain control)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1980. Guitar is the John Birch Custom SG, not the Gibson SG used on earlier Sabbath albums. Amp is a Marshall Super Lead 1959, heavily modified for higher gain, used specifically for the Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules albums. No evidence of Laney amps or other guitars for this riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb0.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- crushing, saturated distortion
- articulate, mid-forward
- chunky palm-muted riffing
- clear note separation under gain
- aggressive, modern metal edge
- focused low end
- ceramic pickup bite
- no ambient effects
- dry, in-your-face rhythm