Fender Hot Rod Deluxe settings
1979 settings for Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
The Smashing Pumpkins · adapted 6 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Smashing Pumpkins "1979" riff tone on a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Reverb 1.5. 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 · updated 2026-11-10
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe knobs
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Presence
- 5
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Bright Switch
- 1
Built-in effects
- Reverb on · 1.5
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Engage the Bright Switch to enhance the clarity and sparkle of the clean tone.
- Consider using a compressor pedal to smooth out dynamics and add sustain to the riff.
The original rig
What The Smashing Pumpkins used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 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 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe settings for 1979?
Set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Reverb 1.5.
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. 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 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Back In Black · AC/DC
- Man in the Box · Alice in Chains
- Walk · Pantera
- Killing in the Name · Rage Against the Machine
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.