rhythm guitar from “zero” by the smashing pumpkins | ToneDB
zero
the smashing pumpkins
rhythm guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
Aggressive and fuzzy rhythm guitar tone, characterized by a thick and saturated distortion. It's a quintessential alternative rock sound with a raw, cutting edge.
Gear
- Fender Stratocasterinstrument
- ReverbSweetwater
- Marshall JCM800amp
- ReverbSweetwater
- Shure SM57microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- Pro Co RATprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Piprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
Billy Corgan's rhythm guitar tone on 'Zero' was built using a Fender Stratocaster through a Marshall JCM800 amp, with the signal heavily processed by stacked distortion pedals including a Pro Co RAT and Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi. The track was recorded at Pumpkinland studio in Chicago and produced by Flood with Alan Moulder engineering. The characteristic thick, saturated sound comes from layering multiple gain stages and blending direct signals with miked amp signals captured through a Shure SM57.
Production Credits
Producer: Flood, Alan Moulder
Engineer: Alan Moulder
Recorded at: Pumpkinland (Chicago, IL)
Signal Chain
Instrument: Fender Stratocaster
Amp: Marshall JCM800
Microphone: Shure SM57
Processing: Pro Co RAT, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Stratocaster-style guitar for its bright and cutting tone.
- Combine a RAT and Big Muff for a complex distortion character; experiment with the order and settings.
- Use a Marshall JCM800 or similar high-gain amp as a foundation for the distortion.
- Blend a direct input signal with the miked amp signal to add clarity and punch.
Original Gear
- Fender Stratocaster(guitar)
- Marshall JCM800(amp)
- Shure SM57(mic)
- Pro Co RAT(pedal)
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Pro Co RAT distortion pedal
Current production version of the exact same circuit Corgan used, providing the aggressive midrange bite essential to this tone
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Still in production with the same thick, saturated fuzz character used on the original recording
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Marshall JCM800
Modern reissue of the JCM800 circuit with the same aggressive Marshall midrange and distortion characteristics
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Marshall JCM800 (budget option)
Can approximate the aggressive Marshall distortion character when used with the RAT and Big Muff stack
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Full signal chain
Includes accurate models of RAT and Big Muff circuits plus Marshall-style amps with direct/amp blending capabilities
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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