Soundgarden Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Soundgarden's guitar tone blends psychedelic atmosphere with crushing heaviness. Kim Thayil's combination of Mesa Dual Rectifier sludge and Fender Twin shimmer creates a uniquely cinematic approach to grunge.
Signature Sound
Thayil combines Mesa Rectifier heaviness for the crushing sections with clean Fender tones for atmospheric passages. The result is a wide dynamic range that mirrors Soundgarden's musical ambitions. Drop tunings add weight, while the clean passages provide contrast and breathing room. The tone is more varied and cinematic than typical grunge.
Featured Tone
Black Hole Sun (1994)
Guild S-100 / various Telecasters and Strats → Mesa
Clean, shimmering verses with warm, rounded quality. Heavy sections have thick Mesa Rectifier crunch. Moody, atmospheric, psychedelic. Multiple guitar layers.
Typical Gear & Settings
Average Amp Settings
Amplifiers
- Mesa
Guitars
- Guild S-100
- various Telecasters and Strats
Pickups
- humbucker
Effects & Pedals
modulation
Studio effects processing
Soundgarden Song Tones
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