Riff Tone
Pennies
The Smashing Pumpkins
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1990s reissue, as used by Billy Corgan in Mellon Collie era)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head with KT88 power tubes (studio recording, Mellon Collie era)
PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge position, as per Corgan's modded Strat in this era)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb1.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Op Amp (late 70s V4)
Notes
Studio recording, 1995-1996 (Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness sessions). Billy Corgan used his modded Strat with a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and a Marshall JCM800 with KT88 tubes for high headroom. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for this song's riff section.
Tone Character(10)
wall of fuzzthick and saturatedmid-forwardtight low endsmooth sustainnot brash or piercingcutting and aggressivehigh outputcrunchy attackslightly compressed
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires control to keep clarity under heavy fuzz and to maintain tightness and definition, especially with palm muting and dynamic picking.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1990s reissue, as used by Billy Corgan in Mellon Collie era)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head with KT88 power tubes (studio recording, Mellon Collie era)
PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge position, as per Corgan's modded Strat in this era)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb1.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Op Amp (late 70s V4)
Notes
Studio recording, 1995-1996 (Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness sessions). Billy Corgan used his modded Strat with a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and a Marshall JCM800 with KT88 tubes for high headroom. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for this song's riff section.
Tone Character(10)
wall of fuzzthick and saturatedmid-forwardtight low endsmooth sustainnot brash or piercingcutting and aggressivehigh outputcrunchy attackslightly compressed
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires control to keep clarity under heavy fuzz and to maintain tightness and definition, especially with palm muting and dynamic picking.
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