GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Outshined (Remastered 2016) Guitar Tone Settings — Soundgarden
Soundgarden · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Guild S-100 (likely S-300 variant) with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup
Pickups
DiMarzio Super Distortion (humbucker, bridge position)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, Badmotorfinger era)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Outshined' (Badmotorfinger, 1991). Kim Thayil used a Guild S-100 (sometimes S-300) with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups into a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head and Mesa 4x12 cab. No fuzz or distortion pedals for riff; boost pedals used for solos only. Chorus and delay not used on riff. Settings estimated based on era, genre, and amp model. No evidence of effects loop or amp-based effects for riff.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb0.5
Treble6
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- tight and saturated
- aggressive and percussive
- full-bodied midrange
- articulate pick attack
- slightly scooped but not hollow
- dynamic and responsive
- heavy, sludgy riffing
- clear note separation
- minimal ambience
- no modulation or time-based effects
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings for 'Outshined' studio riff found; settings estimated based on Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ typical usage for 90s grunge/rock.
- Pedalboard sources list chorus, delay, and boost pedals, but interviews confirm Kim Thayil did NOT use fuzz/distortion/chorus/delay on the main riff in studio—boosts only for solos.
- Some sources mention live rigs with different amps (Mesa Electra-Dyne, Stiletto) and pedals, but these are not relevant to the original studio recording.
- Pickup and guitar model confirmed for Badmotorfinger era, but some sources conflate S-100 and S-300; both used DiMarzio Super Distortion in bridge.
- No evidence of effects loop or amp-based effects used for riff section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kim Thayil's 'Outshined' tone is a thick, mid-forward, crunchy sound typical of early 90s grunge, likely using a Mesa/Boogie or Marshall with moderate gain, strong mids, and restrained reverb for a dry, punchy mix. The bass is tight but not boomy, and the treble/presence are balanced to avoid harshness while maintaining clarity.