Positive Grid Spark GO settings
1979 settings for Positive Grid Spark GO
The Smashing Pumpkins · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Smashing Pumpkins "1979" riff tone on a Positive Grid Spark GO, select the AD Clean preset, then set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 1.5, Music volume 5. Use the neck + middle pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a HSS Stratocaster · updated 2026-07-06
- Preset / mode
- AD Clean
- Pickup
- Neck + Middle
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Positive Grid Spark GO knobs
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Music volume
- 5
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 2
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in chorus set to a moderate level to recreate the shimmering effect of the original tone.
- Adjust the reverb to add depth without overwhelming the clarity of the clean tone.
- Consider using a compression pedal to smooth out dynamics and enhance sustain for the riff.
The original rig
What The Smashing Pumpkins used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Positive Grid Spark GO 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 preset should I use on the Positive Grid Spark GO for 1979?
Start from the AD Clean preset, then set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 1.5, Music volume 5.
Which pickup should I use for 1979?
Neck + Middle, 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 HSS Stratocaster. 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 Positive Grid Spark GO
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Man in the Box · Alice in Chains
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Do I Wanna Know? · Arctic Monkeys
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.