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Riff Tone

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath

Guitarmetal1970s

Original Gear

Guitar1964 Gibson SG Special (nicknamed 'Monkey')

AmpLaney LA100BL Supergroup head with Laney 4x12 cabinet

PickupsGibson P-90 single coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass4

mid8.5

treble7.5

reverb0

presence7.5

Effects & Signal Chain

boostDallas Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster (modified)

Notes

Studio recording, 1969-1970, first Black Sabbath album. Tony Iommi used the SG Special with P-90s into a Laney LA100BL head, often with a Dallas Rangemaster treble booster. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section. Pickup selector in neck position for riff. No effects loop. Studio, not live.

Tone Character(10)

dark and ominousheavy and saturatedraw and powerfuldistinctive biting attackpunchy and aggressivethick, doomy low endmenacing sonic presencesustained, singing notesslightly fuzzy texturemidrange-forward

Difficulty

The riff is iconic and slow, but requires precise timing, dynamic control, and clean note sustain with high gain. The technical challenge is moderate due to the need for control over noise and feedback at high volume.

Sources

Black Sabbath – Paranoid - Gear & Equipment Used on the Single | Equipboard Tony Iommi's classic Black Sabbath guitar tone: secrets behind the sound | Guitar World

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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Guitarmetal1970s

Original Gear

Guitar1964 Gibson SG Special (nicknamed 'Monkey')

AmpLaney LA100BL Supergroup head with Laney 4x12 cabinet

PickupsGibson P-90 single coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass4

mid8.5

treble7.5

reverb0

presence7.5

Effects & Signal Chain

boostDallas Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster (modified)

Sources

Black Sabbath – Paranoid - Gear & Equipment Used on the Single | Equipboard Tony Iommi's classic Black Sabbath guitar tone: secrets behind the sound | Guitar World

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

Notes

Studio recording, 1969-1970, first Black Sabbath album. Tony Iommi used the SG Special with P-90s into a Laney LA100BL head, often with a Dallas Rangemaster treble booster. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section. Pickup selector in neck position for riff. No effects loop. Studio, not live.

Tone Character(10)

dark and ominousheavy and saturatedraw and powerfuldistinctive biting attackpunchy and aggressivethick, doomy low endmenacing sonic presencesustained, singing notesslightly fuzzy texturemidrange-forward

Difficulty

The riff is iconic and slow, but requires precise timing, dynamic control, and clean note sustain with high gain. The technical challenge is moderate due to the need for control over noise and feedback at high volume.

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Black Sabbath settings for your amp

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.

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