Riff Tone

Blow Up the Outside World

Soundgarden

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarGuild S-100 Polara

AmpMesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb Combo

PickupsGuild HB-1 humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6.5

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Op Amp Big Muff Pi

compressionMXR MXR Dyna Comp

Notes

Studio recording, 1996. Kim Thayil used the Guild S-100 Polara with HB-1 humbuckers into a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb for the heavy riff sections. No evidence of live/tour substitutions for the original studio recording.

Tone Character(10)

saturated and thicktight, focused low endpronounced midrange punchaggressive, percussive attackharmonic-rich distortionslightly compressedarticulate power chord claritycontrolled feedback on sustained notesminimal ambiencemodern grunge heaviness

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, aggressive rhythm playing with palm muting and dynamic control, but does not involve advanced lead techniques or complex chord voicings.

Sources

Soundgarden Gear Guide: Thayil, Cornell, Shepherd - Premier Guitar Kim Thayil | Equipboard

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