GuitarDistortedSolo
Smoke on the Water (2024 Remaster) Guitar Tone Settings
Deep Purple · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1970 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Maple
Pickups
Fender single-coil pickups (stock 1970 Stratocaster)
Amp
Marshall Major 200W head with 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1972 (Machine Head sessions, as used for the original 'Smoke on the Water' solo; 2024 Remaster is from this session). Blackmore used a Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster into the Marshall Major. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the solo section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass7.5
Gain6
Reverb2.5
Treble4.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster · boost
Fender Stratocaster → Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster → Marshall Major 200W head (with spring reverb, 4x12 cabinet)
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Tone Character
- big, full-bodied lead tone
- midrange-forward
- slightly compressed attack
- smooth sustain
- articulate and clear
- British crunch
- touch-sensitive response
- not overly saturated
- singing lead lines
- hollowed-out, cocked-wah character