lead guitar from “iron man” by black sabbath | ToneDB
iron man
black sabbath
lead guitar
Tone Profile
A dark, aggressive, and slightly fuzzy guitar tone that cuts through the mix with a raw and powerful presence. It's characterized by a distinct mid-range emphasis and a touch of vintage grit.
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The Story
Tony Iommi's lead guitar tone on "Iron Man" was created using his Gibson SG through a Laney Supergroup amp, with a Dallas Arbiter Rangemaster treble booster to push the amp into overdrive and add sustain. The song was recorded at Regent Sound Studios in London with producer Rodger Bain and engineer Tony Allom. Iommi's SG featured custom-wound pickups, and the Rangemaster was crucial for shaping the mid-range focused, aggressive tone that cuts through the heavy mix.
Production Credits
Producer: Rodger Bain
Engineer: Tony Allom
Recorded at: Regent Sound Studios, London
Signal Chain
Instrument: Gibson SGShop on Reverb
Amp: Laney SupergroupShop on Reverb
Processing: Dallas Arbiter RangemasterShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Gibson SG style guitar and use the bridge pickup.
- Use a Laney Supergroup amp or an amp model that emulates its characteristics.
- Add a treble booster pedal (like the Dallas Arbiter Rangemaster) to increase sustain and add mid-range focus.
- Experiment with the gain settings on both the amp and the pedal to find the sweet spot.
- Consider using a cabinet simulator or impulse response that matches the speaker configuration of a Laney cabinet.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Dallas Arbiter Rangemaster
Accurate Rangemaster clone that provides the same treble boost and midrange focus essential to Iommi's Iron Man tone
Alternative to: Laney Supergroup
Modern Laney that maintains the core Supergroup voicing and overdrive characteristics for authentic Sabbath crunch
Alternative to: Gibson SG with custom pickups
Official Iommi signature model with similar pickup configuration and SG mahogany tone for budget-conscious players
Alternative to: Dallas Arbiter Rangemaster
Premium Rangemaster clone with exact vintage specs for the treble boost and saturation heard on the original recording
Alternative to: Laney Supergroup
High-quality amp modeling plugin with vintage British amp models that can recreate the Supergroup's overdriven character
Frequently Asked Questions
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