lead guitar from “tonight, tonight” by the smashing pumpkins | ToneDB
tonight, tonight
the smashing pumpkins
lead guitar
Tone Profile
A bright, overdriven guitar tone with a hint of chorus and a touch of vintage amp warmth. It's powerful and soaring, contributing to the song's epic feel.
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The Story
Billy Corgan recorded the lead guitar parts for 'Tonight, Tonight' using his signature combination of Fender Stratocaster through a Marshall JCM800 amplifier, with Pro Co RAT distortion and EHX Small Clone chorus effects. The track was recorded during the Mellon Collie sessions with producer Flood and engineer Alan Moulder, who helped craft the song's orchestral-influenced guitar sounds that blend seamlessly with the string arrangements.
Production Credits
Producer: Alan Moulder
Engineer: Butch Vig
Recorded at: Pumpkinland Studios, Chicago
Signal Chain
Instrument: Fender StratocasterShop on Reverb
Amp: Marshall JCM800Shop on Reverb
Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb
Processing: EHX Small CloneShop on Reverb, Pro Co RATShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Fender Stratocaster-style guitar for its bright and versatile tone.
- Use a Marshall JCM800 or similar high-gain amp as your base tone, dialing in a moderate amount of overdrive.
- Add a Pro Co RAT for additional distortion, adjusting the gain to taste.
- Apply a light chorus effect using an EHX Small Clone to thicken the sound.
- Experiment with microphone placement to capture the desired amp characteristics.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Marshall JCM800
The Brown panel setting captures that JCM800 midrange crunch and can achieve the overdriven warmth heard on the track
Alternative to: Pro Co RAT
The current production RAT maintains the same circuit that gave Corgan his signature distortion character on Mellon Collie
Alternative to: EHX Small Clone
Still in production and provides the same lush chorus modulation that adds dimension to the lead guitar parts
Alternative to: Marshall JCM800
Includes accurate Marshall-style amp modeling that can nail the JCM800's midrange character with built-in chorus effects
Alternative to: Fender Stratocaster
Modern Fender single-coil pickups provide the bright, articulate tone foundation that cuts through the mix like Corgan's Strat parts
Frequently Asked Questions
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