Riff Tone

1979 (Acoustic Version)

The Smashing Pumpkins

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or 1980s, used by Billy Corgan in studio for clean tones)

AmpMarshall JCM800

PickupsFender single-coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain3.5

bass5.5

mid5.5

treble6

reverb3.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

compressionDiamond (or similar) Diamond Compressor (or similar optical compressor)

chorusElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus

Notes

Studio recording, 1995 for 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness'. Clean riff section. Guitar is tuned down half a step (Eb standard). No evidence of acoustic guitar on the original studio clean riff; acoustic versions are for live/solo performances. Settings and effects are for the original studio clean riff, not live or acoustic-only renditions.

Tone Character(10)

jangly and cleanlush, dreamy modulationbalanced and rounded EQarticulate and clearslightly compressedwarm with slight top-end shimmersubtle sustaineven string responseopen and airynot harsh or brittle

Difficulty

The riff is accessible to intermediate players but requires precise picking, octave shapes, and muting for a clean, jangly sound.

Sources

Tone Settings for 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins (guitar and amp) - Guitar Chalk 1979 Riff Tone Settings | The Smashing Pumpkins | TonesMatch Potent Pairings: How to Sound like the Smashing Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 Guitar Lesson

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