Smoke On the Water — Deep Purple1 / 2
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Smoke On the Water Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Deep Purple

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
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1972. Ritchie Blackmore used a Fender Stratocaster with single-coil pickups into a Marshall Major amp, boosted with a Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster. No evidence of additional pedals or effects beyond the treble booster and amp reverb. Settings are for the studio recording on 'Machine Head', not live.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
7.5
Gain
6
Reverb
2.5
Treble
4.5
Presence
5

Effects Chain

  • Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster · boost

Fender Stratocaster → Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster → Marshall Major 200W head (spring reverb on amp)

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Tone Character

  • classic British crunch
  • singing sustain
  • aggressive attack
  • articulate single notes
  • slightly scooped mids
  • tight, focused lead tone
  • dynamic response to picking
  • clear note separation
  • warm but biting upper mids
  • touch-sensitive gain

Sources