Solo Tone
Smoke on the Water (2024 Remaster)
Deep Purple
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
Guitar1970 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Maple
AmpMarshall Major 200W head with 4x12 cabinet
PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock 1970 Stratocaster)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass7.5
mid7
treble4.5
reverb2.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
boostHornby-Skewes Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster
Notes
Studio recording, 1972 (Machine Head sessions, as used for the original 'Smoke on the Water' solo; 2024 Remaster is from this session). Blackmore used a Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster into the Marshall Major. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the solo section.
Tone Character(10)
big, full-bodied lead tonemidrange-forwardslightly compressed attacksmooth sustainarticulate and clearBritish crunchtouch-sensitive responsenot overly saturatedsinging lead lineshollowed-out, cocked-wah character
Difficulty
The solo requires intermediate to advanced technique, with expressive bends, fast pentatonic licks, and dynamic control to achieve Blackmore's signature phrasing and articulation.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
Guitar1970 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Maple
AmpMarshall Major 200W head with 4x12 cabinet
PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock 1970 Stratocaster)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass7.5
mid7
treble4.5
reverb2.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
boostHornby-Skewes Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster
Notes
Studio recording, 1972 (Machine Head sessions, as used for the original 'Smoke on the Water' solo; 2024 Remaster is from this session). Blackmore used a Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster into the Marshall Major. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the solo section.
Tone Character(10)
big, full-bodied lead tonemidrange-forwardslightly compressed attacksmooth sustainarticulate and clearBritish crunchtouch-sensitive responsenot overly saturatedsinging lead lineshollowed-out, cocked-wah character
Difficulty
The solo requires intermediate to advanced technique, with expressive bends, fast pentatonic licks, and dynamic control to achieve Blackmore's signature phrasing and articulation.
Smoke on the Water (2024 Remaster) settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
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