Roland Jazz Chorus JC-40 settings
1979 settings for Roland Jazz Chorus JC-40
The Smashing Pumpkins · adapted 5 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Smashing Pumpkins "1979" riff tone on a Roland Jazz Chorus JC-40, set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 1.5, Bright 0. Use the neck pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster · updated 2026-09-03
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Roland Jazz Chorus JC-40 knobs
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Bright
- 0
- Distortion
- 0
- Chorus depth
- 5
- Chorus speed
- 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.
- Keep your guitar volume at 8-9 to maintain clarity and punch in the clean riff.
- Adjust the reverb to add a subtle sense of space without overwhelming the clean tone.
The original rig
What The Smashing Pumpkins used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Roland Jazz Chorus JC-40 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 Roland Jazz Chorus JC-40 settings for 1979?
Set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 1.5, Bright 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 Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster. 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
More The Smashing Pumpkins on the Roland Jazz Chorus JC-40
All The Smashing Pumpkins tones →Popular songs on the Roland Jazz Chorus JC-40
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Nothing Else Matters · Metallica
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Take Me Out · Franz Ferdinand
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Mr. Brightside · The Killers
- Paranoid Android · Radiohead
- ก็เคยสัญญา · Asanee & Wasan
- Black Hole Sun · Soundgarden
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.