Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus settings
1979 settings for Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
The Smashing Pumpkins · adapted 6 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Smashing Pumpkins "1979" riff tone on a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus, set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 1.5, Distortion 0. Use the neck pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Tagima TW-61 · updated 2026-10-19
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus knobs
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Distortion
- 0
- Bright switch
- 1
- Vibrato depth
- 0
- Vibrato speed
- 0
Built-in effects
- Chorus on
- Reverb on · 1.5
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in chorus set to a moderate level to recreate the subtle shimmer of the original tone.
- Engage the bright switch on your amp for enhanced treble clarity.
- Set your amp's reverb to add a bit of depth to the clean riff, but keep it subtle.
The original rig
What The Smashing Pumpkins used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus 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 JC-120 Jazz Chorus settings for 1979?
Set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 1.5, Distortion 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 Tagima TW-61. 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 Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
- Slow Dancing in a Burning Room · John Mayer
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Layla · Derek and the Dominos
- Walk · Pantera
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Mighty Name of Jesus (Live) · The Belonging Co & Hope Darst
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Praise (feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore) · Elevation Worship
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Rooster · Alice in Chains
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.