GuitarCleanRiff
Today Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1974 Fender Stratocaster
Pickups
Fender single-coil pickups (stock 1974 Stratocaster)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (with KT88 power tubes, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Position 4 (neck + middle)
Studio recording, 1992-1993 (Siamese Dream sessions). Clean riff section. Billy Corgan is known to use his '74 Strat for the clean parts, direct into the Marshall JCM800 with KT88 tubes for more headroom and less breakup. No evidence of pedals in the clean signal chain for this section; Corgan has stated he prefers as direct a signal as possible for rhythm/clean parts. No evidence of chorus, phaser, or other modulation on the clean riff. No evidence of amp reverb being used.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb1
Treble6.5
Presence6
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- bright and glassy
- articulate and percussive
- clear note separation
- dynamic and responsive
- slightly compressed from amp headroom
- no audible breakup
- no reverb or delay
- direct and unprocessed
- Stratocaster chime
- tight low end