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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)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
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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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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
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)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
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.