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Riff Tone
Zero (8-Track Demo)
The Smashing Pumpkins
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
Guitar1990s Fender Stratocaster (likely modded, possibly Lace Sensor pickups, as used by Billy Corgan on Mellon Collie era demos and live)
AmpMarshall JCM800 (likely, as per Corgan's studio rig for Mellon Collie era and demo sessions)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass6
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Notes
Studio demo recording, 1995. Gear inferred from era and known studio rig for Mellon Collie sessions. No direct evidence for the 8-Track Demo, but all sources agree on Op-Amp Big Muff and Marshall amp as core elements. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this demo.
Tone Character(10)
thick and saturated fuzztight and percussive rhythmaggressive attackmid-heavy, compressed tonewall of soundsustain-rich riffingslightly scooped but not thincrushing, layered guitarsarticulate pick attackminimal ambience
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires tight palm muting, aggressive picking, and precise timing to achieve the signature percussive, saturated sound.
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
Original Gear
Guitar1990s Fender Stratocaster (likely modded, possibly Lace Sensor pickups, as used by Billy Corgan on Mellon Collie era demos and live)
AmpMarshall JCM800 (likely, as per Corgan's studio rig for Mellon Collie era and demo sessions)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio demo recording, 1995. Gear inferred from era and known studio rig for Mellon Collie sessions. No direct evidence for the 8-Track Demo, but all sources agree on Op-Amp Big Muff and Marshall amp as core elements. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this demo.
Tone Character(10)
thick and saturated fuzztight and percussive rhythmaggressive attackmid-heavy, compressed tonewall of soundsustain-rich riffingslightly scooped but not thincrushing, layered guitarsarticulate pick attackminimal ambience
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires tight palm muting, aggressive picking, and precise timing to achieve the signature percussive, saturated sound.