What guitar did Billy Corgan use on Today?

Billy Corgan used a Fender Stratocaster on "Today." This was part of his standard setup during the Siamese Dream era, where he primarily relied on Stratocasters for their single-coil pickup response with fuzz and high-gain effects.

How to get Billy Corgan's tone on Today?

Start with a Fender Stratocaster into a Big Muff Pi fuzz pedal, then run that into a high-gain amp or preamp like the ADA MP-1. Layer multiple guitar tracks and experiment with slight panning to create the characteristic wall of sound.

What amp did Smashing Pumpkins use on Siamese Dream?

The Smashing Pumpkins used an ADA MP-1 preamp extensively on Siamese Dream, including on "Today." This rackmount preamp provided the high-gain foundation that was combined with fuzz pedals for their signature saturated sound.

What Big Muff did Billy Corgan use?

Billy Corgan used various Big Muff Pi pedals during the Siamese Dream era, particularly the op-amp versions from the mid-1970s. These specific Big Muffs were known for their fuzzy saturation and sustain that became central to his tone.

Who produced Today by Smashing Pumpkins?

"Today" was produced by Butch Vig at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. Vig also engineered the track and was instrumental in crafting the layered, wall-of-sound approach that defined much of Siamese Dream's guitar sound.

rhythm guitar from "today" by the smashing pumpkins

today

the smashing pumpkins

rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

A high-gain, aggressive rhythm guitar sound with a fuzzy edge, providing a wall of sound that is both heavy and melodic. It's characterized by a blend of distortion and fuzz, creating a thick and saturated tone.

The Story

The rhythm guitar sound on "Today" was recorded by Billy Corgan using a Fender Stratocaster run through a Big Muff Pi fuzz pedal and an ADA MP-1 preamp. The track was produced and engineered by Butch Vig at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. The characteristic wall of sound was achieved by layering multiple guitar takes and combining the fuzzy Big Muff with the high-gain MP-1 for maximum saturation and sustain.

Production Credits

Producer: Butch Vig

Engineer: Butch Vig

Recorded at: Smart Studios, Madison, Wisconsin

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Stratocaster

Amp: ADA MP-1

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Big Muff Pi

Recreation Tips

Start with a Fender Stratocaster into a fuzz pedal like a Big Muff Pi.
Combine the fuzz with a high-gain amp, such as the ADA MP-1, for added sustain and saturation.
Experiment with mic placement on the amp to capture the right balance of bite and warmth.
Double-track the guitar parts and pan them slightly left and right to create a wide, full sound.

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

EHX Op-Amp Big Muff Pi Reissue$75-$90

Alternative to: Big Muff Pi fuzz pedal

This reissue captures the specific mid-70s Big Muff tone that Corgan used extensively on Siamese Dream, providing the same fuzzy saturation and sustain

Boss MT-2 Metal Zone$100-$120

Alternative to: ADA MP-1 preamp

Provides similar high-gain saturation and midrange bite when stacked with fuzz, commonly used to approximate MP-1 tones on a budget

Neural DSP Fortin Nameless Suite$140-$160

Alternative to: ADA MP-1 preamp

Offers high-gain preamp modeling that can replicate the MP-1's saturated character with modern convenience and multiple amp options

Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster$400-$450

Alternative to: Fender Stratocaster

Provides authentic Stratocaster single-coil pickup response that works well with fuzz pedals, offering vintage tone at an accessible price point

ProCo RAT 2$90-$110

Alternative to: Combined Big Muff and MP-1 setup

Single pedal that bridges fuzz and high-gain distortion, popular among 90s alternative guitarists for achieving similar saturated rhythm tones

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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rhythm guitar from “today” by the smashing pumpkins | ToneDB