What guitar did Billy Corgan use on Mayonaise?

Billy Corgan used a Fender Stratocaster for the lead guitar parts on 'Mayonaise'. He typically played the bridge pickup position to get the clarity needed to cut through the heavy fuzz and overdrive effects.

How to get Billy Corgan's Mayonaise guitar tone?

Start with a Stratocaster into a Big Muff Pi for fuzz, then add a DOD Overdrive 250 with low gain settings for sustain and midrange boost. Run this into a high-gain preamp like the ADA MP-1, and layer multiple guitar tracks with slightly different settings.

What pedals did Smashing Pumpkins use on Siamese Dream?

For 'Mayonaise' and much of Siamese Dream, Billy Corgan used an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi for fuzz and a DOD Overdrive 250 for additional sustain and overdrive. This combination was key to achieving the album's signature layered guitar sound.

What amp did Billy Corgan use on Mayonaise?

Billy Corgan used an ADA MP-1 preamp as the primary amplification for 'Mayonaise'. The MP-1 was a rack-mounted tube preamp that provided high gain and sustain, which was essential for the song's heavily saturated guitar tone.

How many guitar tracks are layered on Mayonaise?

While the exact number of guitar tracks on 'Mayonaise' hasn't been specifically documented, Billy Corgan was known for extensively layering guitars throughout Siamese Dream. He would record multiple passes with slightly varied pedal settings to create the dense, harmonic complexity heard on the album.

lead guitar from "mayonaise" by the smashing pumpkins

mayonaise

the smashing pumpkins

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Tone Profile

A heavily distorted, yet smooth and almost 'glassy' guitar tone with a blend of fuzz and overdrive, characterized by its sustain and harmonic richness.

Shop This Rig

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Fender Stratocaster(instrument)
ADA MP-1(amp)
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi(processing)
DOD Overdrive 250(processing)

The Story

Billy Corgan achieved the 'Mayonaise' lead guitar tone using a Fender Stratocaster through an ADA MP-1 preamp, with an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi and DOD Overdrive 250 in the signal chain. The Big Muff provided the fuzz foundation while the DOD 250 added sustain and midrange boost. Corgan layered multiple guitar tracks with slightly varied settings to create the dense, harmonic complexity heard on the recording.

Production Credits

Producer: Butch Vig, Billy Corgan

Engineer: Butch Vig

Recorded at: Trippin' Balls Studio, Chicago, IL

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender StratocasterShop on Reverb

Amp: ADA MP-1Shop on Reverb

Processing: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff PiShop on Reverb, DOD Overdrive 250Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Fender Stratocaster in the bridge pickup position for clarity.
Use an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi for the core fuzz tone.
Add a DOD Overdrive 250 with the gain set relatively low to boost the signal and add sustain.
Experiment with different amp settings and cabinet simulations to fine-tune the sound. ADA MP-1 is key to this sound but other high gain amps can get you close.
Layer multiple guitar tracks, slightly varying the settings on each, to create depth and complexity.

Original Gear

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Fender StratocasterShop on Reverb(guitar)
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff PiShop on Reverb(pedal)
DOD Overdrive 250Shop on Reverb(pedal)
ADA MP-1Shop on Reverb(amp)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp Big Muff PiShop on Reverb$80-$100

Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi

Modern reissue of the specific Big Muff circuit used during Siamese Dream era, providing the core fuzz character

DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 (2013 reissue)Shop on Reverb$50-$70

Alternative to: DOD Overdrive 250

Current production version of the exact overdrive used to boost the Big Muff and add midrange

Friedman BE-OD DeluxeShop on Reverb$200-$250

Alternative to: ADA MP-1 preamp

High-gain preamp pedal that captures the compressed, saturated character of the MP-1's tube emulation

Neural DSP Soldano SLO-100 PluginPlugin Boutique$100-$140

Alternative to: ADA MP-1 preamp

Digital recreation of high-gain tube amp characteristics similar to the MP-1's saturated preamp section

Squier Classic Vibe 70s StratocasterShop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Fender Stratocaster

Budget Stratocaster with single-coil pickups that provides the bright, clear foundation needed for this layered fuzz tone

Sources

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lead guitar from “mayonaise” by the smashing pumpkins | ToneDB