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

The Smashing Pumpkins · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (mid-'70s) with DiMarzio pickups
Pickups
DiMarzio single-coil pickups
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording of 'Soma' from the 1993 album 'Siamese Dream'.

Amp Settings

Mids
5
Bass
6
Gain
8
Reverb
3
Treble
7
Presence
5.5

Effects Chain

  • Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi · fuzz
  • Boss CE-2 Chorus · chorus
  • MXR Phase 90 · phaser
  • Boss DD-3 Digital Delay · delay

Guitar → Big Muff Pi → Boss CE-2 Chorus → MXR Phase 90 → Boss DD-3 Digital Delay → Marshall JCM800 2203

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Tone Character

  • creamy fuzz tone
  • saturated, violin-like lead tones
  • massive fuzz used during crescendos
  • thick rhythm and lead tones
  • layered fuzz tones are key

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️Exact amp settings are estimated based on typical configurations for the Marshall JCM800 2203 and may not reflect the precise studio settings used during the recording of 'Soma'.
  • ⚠️Specific pedal settings and signal chain order are not documented in available sources; the provided information is based on common practices and inferred from the artist's known gear.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The Smashing Pumpkins' 'Soma' features a high-gain, layered guitar tone typical of Billy Corgan's style during the '90s. The settings reflect a balanced EQ with a slight mid-scoop for clarity and a moderate reverb for ambient depth, characteristic of the alt-rock sound of the era.

Sources