Guitar tone · rock, metal

Soundgarden guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 22 Soundgarden songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Guild S-100 into Peavey VTM-120.

Guitars Soundgarden used

Guild S-10010 songs
Guild S-100 Polara6 songs
Guild S-3003 songs
Guild S-100 (likely S-300 variant) with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup2 songs
Gibson Les Paul Standard1 song
Gretsch Duo Jet (likely 1960s, black, Bigsby, as used by Chris Cornell on Superunknown sessions)1 song
Guild S-100 Polara (likely, as used by Kim Thayil on 'Down on the Upside' era recordings)1 song
Fender Jazz Bass (likely Mexican Standard, red or white, passive, 4-string)1 song

Amps Soundgarden used

Peavey VTM-1202 songs
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+2 songs
Marshall JMP 50 half stack blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo half stack2 songs
Marshall JCM8001 song
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb Combo1 song
Peavey VTM 1201 song
Marshall JMP50 Plexi (50-watt head) blended with Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head1 song
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100W + Marshall JMP50 (blended)1 song

39 Soundgarden tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Black Hole Sun · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100	Late-Seventies Marshall Model 1987 JMP 50-watt Lead head (blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo head)	6
Black Hole Sun · riff	Riff · clean	Guild S-100	Late-Seventies Marshall Model 1987 JMP 50-watt Lead head + Marshall Model 1960 4x12 angled cabinet with Celestion G12H 30-watt Greenbacks	0
Fell On Black Days · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100	Marshall JMP 50 half stack blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo half stack	6
Outshined (Remastered 2016) · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100 (likely S-300 variant) with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, Badmotorfinger era)	7
Spoonman · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100	Marshall JMP50 Plexi (blended with Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head)	6.5
4th of July · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100 (likely S-300 variant, as used by Kim Thayil on Superunknown era recordings)	Marshall JMP 50 half stack blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo head (studio recording, 1994)	7.5
4th of July · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Jazz Bass (likely Mexican Standard, red or white, passive, 4-string)	Mesa/Boogie Bass 400+ (studio, possibly blended with Ampeg SVT; Mesa is primary per era and interviews)	7
4th of July · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Telecaster (likely American Standard, early 90s, as used by Kim Thayil on Superunknown)	Marshall JMP 50 half stack blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo half stack	7
Beyond the Wheel · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100	Mesa/Boogie Trem-o-Verb	7.5
Black Hole Sun · solo	Solo · clean	Gretsch Duo Jet (single-cutaway, likely 1990s reissue, as used by Chris Cornell on Superunknown sessions)	Marshall Model 1987 JMP 50-watt Lead head (late 1970s) blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo head (1993), both into 4x12 cabinets	0
Black Hole Sun · solo	Solo · distorted	Gretsch Duo Jet (likely 1970s or 1980s, black, with Filter'Tron pickups)	Blended: Late-Seventies Marshall Model 1987 JMP 50-watt Lead head + 1993 Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo head (both into 4x12 cabs)	6.5
Black Hole Sun · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Jazz Bass (likely 1970s, Ben Shepherd's main studio bass for Superunknown era)	Ampeg SVT (classic tube head, likely with 8x10 cab, studio standard for 1990s grunge/rock)	6
Blow Up the Outside World · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100 Polara	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb Combo	6.5
Burden In My Hand · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender American Standard Telecaster (likely, as used by Chris Cornell on the studio recording of 'Burden In My Hand')	Ampeg VT-22 combo	5
Cold Bitch · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Custom	Mesa/Boogie Mark IV	7
Fell On Black Days · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Jazz Bass (likely with Badass bridge, as per user and photo evidence)	Ampeg SVT-VR (studio era), Mesa/Boogie V-Twin preamp/overdrive pedal	6
Fell On Black Days · solo	Solo · distorted	Guild S-100 Polara	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head blended with Marshall JMP 50 half stack	6
Flower · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100	Ampeg V-4 (likely, based on era and interviews; Marshall also possible but Ampeg cited for Ultramega OK era)	6.5
Gun · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100	Peavey VTM-120	7.5
Head Down · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100	Peavey VTM 120 (likely), possibly Mesa/Boogie or Music Man (see warnings)	6
Holy Water (Remastered 2016) · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100 Polara	Marshall JMP50 (blended with Mesa/Boogie, but Marshall is primary for riff)	7
Holy Water (Remastered 2016) · solo	Solo · distorted	Guild S-100 Polara	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100W + Marshall JMP50 (blended in studio)	7
Holy Water (Remastered 2016) · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Höfner 500/1 Bass	Ampeg SVT-VR	6
Incessant Mace · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-300	Peavey VTM 120	6
Let Me Drown · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100	Mesa/Boogie Maverick 50-watt (studio rhythm), Marshall JCM800 (possible alternate), Fender Super (possible blend)	7.5
Limo Wreck · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson ES-335 (Kim Thayil's main guitar for Superunknown era studio recordings)	Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, Superunknown era)	7
Mailman · riff	Riff · distorted	Gretsch Duo Jet (likely 1960s, black, Bigsby, as used by Chris Cornell on Superunknown sessions)	Marshall JMP50 Plexi (50-watt head) blended with Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head	7
Outshined · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-300	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+	7
Outshined (Remastered 2016) · solo	Solo · distorted	Guild S-300	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier	7.5
Outshined (Remastered 2016) · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Jazz Bass	Ampeg SVT (likely vintage, 1970s/early 90s model)	6.5
Rhinosaur · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100 Polara (likely, as used by Kim Thayil on 'Down on the Upside' era recordings)	Mesa Boogie Maverick Dual Rectifier 2-Channel 35-Watt Guitar Amp Head	7
Room A Thousand Years Wide (Remastered 2016) · solo	Solo · distorted	Guild S-100 Polara	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100W + Marshall JMP50 (blended)	7
Room A Thousand Years Wide (Remastered 2016) · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100 Polara	Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+	7
Room A Thousand Years Wide (Remastered 2016) · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Jazz Bass (1972, passive, likely with Dean Markley heavy-gauge roundwound strings)	Mesa Boogie 400B head into Mesa/Boogie 4x10 and 2x15 cabinets (studio likely used a smaller version of this touring rig)	7
Slaves & Bulldozers (Remastered 2016) · distorted	Distorted · distorted	Fender Precision Bass (early '70s, likely 1972, with Dean Markley flatwound strings)	Ampeg SVT (classic tube head) + Mesa/Boogie Strategy 500 (dual amp blend, studio context)	7
Slaves & Bulldozers (Remastered 2016) · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass (early '70s, likely with Dean Markley flatwound strings)	Ampeg SVT (vintage tube head, likely with Ampeg 8x10 cab); possible blend with Mesa/Boogie Strategy 500 or B-15, but SVT is primary for clean sections	0
Slaves & Bulldozers (Remastered 2016) · riff	Riff · distorted	Guild S-100	Peavey VTM-120	7.5
Slaves & Bulldozers (Remastered 2016) · solo	Solo · distorted	Guild S-100 (likely S-300 variant) with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup	Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio), possibly Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne or Tremoverb (live/modern era)	8
Toy Box · riff	Riff · distorted	Gibson Les Paul Standard	Marshall JCM800	7

Soundgarden songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Soundgarden use?

Across 22 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Peavey VTM-120 (2 songs), Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (2 songs), Marshall JMP 50 half stack blended with Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo half stack (2 songs), Marshall JCM800 (1 song).

What guitar did Soundgarden use?

Most often: Guild S-100 (10 songs), Guild S-100 Polara (6 songs), Guild S-300 (3 songs), Guild S-100 (likely S-300 variant) with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup (2 songs).

How do I get Soundgarden's tone on my amp?

Open any Soundgarden song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.