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Mayonaise — The Smashing Pumpkins1 / 2
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Mayonaise Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1988 Fender American Vintage '57 Reissue Stratocaster
Pickups
Fender single-coil (stock '57 reissue Strat pickups)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1992-1993 (Siamese Dream sessions). Billy Corgan played most rhythm tracks. Guitar and amp confirmed by multiple interviews and session photos. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for this section.

Amp Settings

Mids
7.5
Bass
6.5
Gain
8
Reverb
2
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Op-Amp version) · fuzz

Guitar → Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Op-Amp) → Marshall JCM800 2203 head → Marshall 4x12 cabinet (spring reverb on amp)

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Tone Character

  • wall-of-sound fuzz
  • massive sustain
  • warm, saturated distortion
  • rich harmonic overtones
  • slightly compressed attack
  • open, ringing chords
  • thick, creamy midrange
  • notably smooth top end
  • lush, layered texture
  • dense, swirling fuzz

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No official amp knob settings for 'Mayonaise' found; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 usage for 1990s Pumpkins fuzz tones.
  • ⚠️Pedal model inferred from era/interviews and the clearly audible fuzz; no direct studio documentation for this song's exact pedal chain.
  • ⚠️No evidence of modulation, delay, or time-based effects in the riff section; only fuzz/distortion is clearly audible.
  • ⚠️Pickup position inferred from tone and common Corgan practice on Siamese Dream.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Billy Corgan's 'Mayonaise' tone is thick, saturated, and mid-forward, typical of his early 90s Pumpkins sound using Big Muff into a cranked Marshall or JCM800. The gain is high but not extreme, with strong mids and balanced bass/treble, and only subtle reverb, matching the dense, creamy, and soaring riff section.

Sources