Boss Katana Gen 3 50W settings
1979 settings for Boss Katana Gen 3 50W
The Smashing Pumpkins · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Smashing Pumpkins "1979" riff tone on a Boss Katana Gen 3 50W, set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 1.5, Fx 0. Use the neck pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Epiphone Les Paul Custom · updated 2026-10-07
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Boss Katana Gen 3 50W knobs
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Fx
- 0
- Bst
- 0
- Variation
- 0
- Power control
- 2
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 2
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in chorus set to a moderate level to add shimmer to the clean riff.
- Set the reverb to a low level for a subtle ambient effect.
- Play with a light touch to maintain clarity and articulation in the riff.
The original rig
What The Smashing Pumpkins used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss Katana Gen 3 50W actually has.
- Guitar
- Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 80s, as used by Billy Corgan in studio)
- Amp
- Marshall JCM800 (modded with KT88 tubes, as used on Mellon Collie sessions)
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 5.5
- Mid
- 6.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Presence
- 5.5
- Reverb
- 2.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get 1979 adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts The Smashing Pumpkins's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Boss Katana Gen 3 50W settings for 1979?
Set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 1.5, Fx 0.
Which pickup should I use for 1979?
Neck pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did The Smashing Pumpkins use on 1979?
Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 80s, as used by Billy Corgan in studio). Amp: Marshall JCM800 (modded with KT88 tubes, as used on Mellon Collie sessions).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Epiphone Les Paul Custom. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
1979 on other amps
Popular songs on the Boss Katana Gen 3 50W
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Free Bird · Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Heart-Shaped Box · Nirvana
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.