GuitarDistortedRiff
Today Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1991 Fender Stratocaster (likely American Standard, modded with Lace Sensor pickups)
Pickups
Fender Lace Sensor Blue (neck), Silver (middle), Red (bridge) single coils
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head with KT88 power tubes, Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1992-1993 for Siamese Dream. Billy Corgan used his modded Strat with Lace Sensors into a JCM800 2203 head (KT88 tubes) for the main riff. No evidence of live/touring gear or alternate guitars for this section. Effects were mostly pedals, with amp set clean and distortion from pedals.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (vintage, likely '70s NYC or Sovtek) · fuzz
- Boss GE-7 Equalizer · eq
Fender Stratocaster (Lace Sensor bridge pickup) → Big Muff Pi → Boss GE-7 EQ → Marshall JCM800 2203 (KT88) → Marshall 4x12 cab (spring reverb low)
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Tone Character
- thick, saturated fuzz
- wall-of-sound rhythm
- smooth, compressed sustain
- mid-forward punch
- tight, focused low end
- slightly scooped highs
- layered, creamy distortion
- percussive attack
- rich harmonic overtones
- dense, multi-tracked guitars