Riff Tone
Killing Yourself to Live
Black Sabbath
Guitarmetal1970s
Original Gear
Guitar1965 Gibson SG Special (modded for Tony Iommi, likely with P-90s or custom pickups)
Amp1969 Laney Supergroup (likely 100-watt head, studio version)
PickupsJohn Birch custom humbucker (bridge), P-90 style single coil (neck)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1973 for the album 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'. Gear confirmed for this era and album by multiple sources. No evidence of pedals or effects used for the main riff in the studio version.
Tone Character(10)
thick, mid-heavy crunchclassic British amp saturationpercussive attacktight, focused low endwarm, singing sustainsludgy but articulateaggressive pick attackminimal fizzno audible reverb or delayorganic, dynamic response
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive picking and precise timing, with fast chord changes and dynamic muting, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.
Sources
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Original Gear
Guitar1965 Gibson SG Special (modded for Tony Iommi, likely with P-90s or custom pickups)
Amp1969 Laney Supergroup (likely 100-watt head, studio version)
PickupsJohn Birch custom humbucker (bridge), P-90 style single coil (neck)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1973 for the album 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'. Gear confirmed for this era and album by multiple sources. No evidence of pedals or effects used for the main riff in the studio version.
Tone Character(10)
thick, mid-heavy crunchclassic British amp saturationpercussive attacktight, focused low endwarm, singing sustainsludgy but articulateaggressive pick attackminimal fizzno audible reverb or delayorganic, dynamic response
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive picking and precise timing, with fast chord changes and dynamic muting, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.
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