Ampeg SVT settings
Paranoid settings for Ampeg SVT
Black Sabbath · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Black Sabbath "Paranoid" clean tone on a Ampeg SVT, set Gain 0, Drive 0, Bass 6.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 5, Presence 4. Use the both pickups, favor bridge (rickenbacker jangle) pickup.
Clean settings
Adapted for a Rickenbacker 4003 · updated 2026-09-23
- Pickup
- Both pickups, favor bridge (Rickenbacker jangle)
Ampeg SVT knobs
- Gain
- 0
- Drive
- 0
- Bass
- 6.5
- Mid
- 5.5
- Treble
- 5
- Presence
- 4
- Ultra low
- 0
- Ultra high
- 0
Playing tips
- Use your fingers to pluck the strings near the neck for a warmer tone.
- Experiment with your right-hand position to find the sweet spot for attack.
- Keep your fingers relaxed to maintain a smooth and consistent sound.
The original rig
What Black Sabbath used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Ampeg SVT actually has.
- Bass
- 1964 Gibson SG Special (aka 'Monkey')
- Amp
- Laney Supergroup MK1 LA100BL (100-watt head) with Laney 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12-25M speakers likely)
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 3
- Mid
- 8.5
- Treble
- 8
- Presence
- 7.5
- Reverb
- 0
Different bass or pedals? Get Paranoid adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Black Sabbath's tone to your own bass, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Ampeg SVT settings for Paranoid?
Set Gain 0, Drive 0, Bass 6.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 5, Presence 4.
Which pickup should I use for Paranoid?
Both pickups, favor bridge (Rickenbacker jangle).
What gear did Black Sabbath use on Paranoid?
Bass: 1964 Gibson SG Special (aka 'Monkey'). Amp: Laney Supergroup MK1 LA100BL (100-watt head) with Laney 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12-25M speakers likely).
Will these settings work with my bass?
These settings were adapted for a Rickenbacker 4003. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact bass, pickups, amp and pedals.
Paranoid on other amps
Popular songs on the Ampeg SVT
- For Whom the Bell Tolls · Metallica
- Hysteria · Muse
- Schism · TOOL
- Money · Pink Floyd
- Give it Away · Red Hot Chile Peppers
- Dean Town · Vulfpeck
- Symphony of Destruction · Megadeth
- Feel Good Inc. (feat. David Jolicoeur, Kelvin Mercer & Vincent Mason) · Gorillaz & De La Soul
- Chop Suey! · System Of A Down
- Come Together · The Beatles
- Orion · Metallica
- Oh, Pretty Woman · Roy Orbison
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.