TonesMatch
Iron Man — Black Sabbath1 / 2
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GuitarDistortedSolo60% confidence

Iron Man Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath · 1970s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1965 Gibson SG Special
Pickups
P-90 single-coil pickups
Amp
Laney Supergroup MK 1 100-watt head with Laney 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12-25M speakers likely)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1970, Paranoid album. Guitar and amp confirmed for studio use on this track. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the solo section.

Amp Settings

Mids
8.5
Bass
3
Gain
8
Reverb
0
Treble
8
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster · boost

Guitar → Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster → Laney Supergroup MK 1 head → Laney 4x12 cabinet

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Tone Character

  • thick and saturated
  • singing sustain
  • aggressive and biting
  • mid-forward
  • tight and percussive
  • classic early metal
  • raw and powerful
  • slightly fuzzy edge
  • articulate single notes
  • cranked amp compression

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No official amp knob settings for the solo section found in primary sources; settings are based on forum consensus and typical Laney Supergroup + Rangemaster usage for this era.
  • ⚠️Presence setting is estimated based on typical Laney Supergroup usage and genre/era.
  • ⚠️No evidence of reverb or time-based/modulation effects in the solo; only treble booster/fuzz is confirmed.
  • ⚠️Pedal model is inferred from era and multiple sources, but exact studio unit cannot be 100% verified.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Tony Iommi's 'Iron Man' solo tone is classic early-70s British crunch: moderate gain from a Laney Supergroup, strong mids for punch, slightly boosted bass for heaviness, restrained treble to avoid harshness, and no reverb as the recording is dry and direct. These settings reflect his typical amp approach and the era's production style.

Sources