Riff Tone

Hummer

The Smashing Pumpkins

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

Guitar1991 Fender Stratocaster (modded with Lace Sensor pickups, likely Silver in neck/middle, Red in bridge)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1992-1993)

PickupsLace Sensor Red (bridge position, humbucker-like high output single coil)

Amp Settings

gain8

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb1.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Big Muff (Op-Amp, late 70s/early 80s version)

Notes

Studio recording for Siamese Dream (1992-1993). Billy Corgan double-tracked and layered guitars. Main riff tone is the classic Pumpkins 'wall of fuzz' sound, achieved with a Stratocaster with Lace Sensor Red in the bridge, into a vintage Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp Big Muff, into a cranked Marshall JCM800. No chorus or modulation on the riff section. All evidence points to the Op-Amp Big Muff as the primary distortion/fuzz source for the riff. Studio, not live.

Tone Character(10)

massive wall of fuzzsaturated and sustainingtight, compressed rhythmmid-forward punchharmonic richnesspercussive attackslight top-end sizzlelayered, thick distortionnot scoopedno modulation on riff

Difficulty

The riff requires tight palm muting and precise picking to maintain clarity through heavy fuzz, and layering for the signature Pumpkins sound. Not technically virtuosic, but challenging to execute cleanly at tempo with this level of gain.

Sources

Smashing Pumpkins Hummer Tone | The Gear Page smashing pumpkins big muff which is better vintage op amp or new ...Big Muff Op-Amp Review - ICBM and SUF Op-Amp Fuzz If you want the Siamese Dream guitar tone, this is your video - Reddit

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