Riff Tone
The Boy
The Smashing Pumpkins
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s reissue, as used by Billy Corgan on Mellon Collie era recordings)
AmpMarshall JMP-1 preamp into Mesa Boogie Strategy 500 power amp (studio recording chain for Mellon Collie era)
PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge position, as per Corgan's known mods for this era)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
mid5.5
treble6.5
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (OpAmp version)
eqBoss Boss GE-7 Graphic Equalizer
Notes
Studio recording, 1995; gear based on Mellon Collie era studio documentation and interviews. No direct source for 'The Boy' session, but this is the documented setup for the album's riff sections.
Tone Character(9)
scooped midrange fuzzmassive wall of soundsustained, saturated distortiontight, percussive rhythm attackaggressive pick attackcompressed, singing sustaincrisp, articulate highschunky low endclassic Pumpkins fuzz texture
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, percussive palm muting and aggressive picking, but does not involve advanced techniques or complex chord voicings.
Sources
This tone has been researched 2 times by the community
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Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s reissue, as used by Billy Corgan on Mellon Collie era recordings)
AmpMarshall JMP-1 preamp into Mesa Boogie Strategy 500 power amp (studio recording chain for Mellon Collie era)
PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge position, as per Corgan's known mods for this era)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
mid5.5
treble6.5
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (OpAmp version)
eqBoss Boss GE-7 Graphic Equalizer
This tone has been researched 2 times by the community
Notes
Studio recording, 1995; gear based on Mellon Collie era studio documentation and interviews. No direct source for 'The Boy' session, but this is the documented setup for the album's riff sections.
Tone Character(9)
scooped midrange fuzzmassive wall of soundsustained, saturated distortiontight, percussive rhythm attackaggressive pick attackcompressed, singing sustaincrisp, articulate highschunky low endclassic Pumpkins fuzz texture
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, percussive palm muting and aggressive picking, but does not involve advanced techniques or complex chord voicings.
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