Paranoid by Black Sabbath — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
To capture the iconic tone of 'Paranoid' by Black Sabbath, we'll use the Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster paired with the Fender Mustang LT25. The Strat's single-coil pickups will emulate the P-90 sound, while the Mustang's modeling capabilities will approximate the Laney Supergroup amp with a treble boost. We'll start with the '04 CLASSIC ROCK' preset on the Mustang LT25, adjusting gain and EQ to match the mid-forward, aggressive character of the original recording.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster — Main guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Bridge Pickup | Select the bridge pickup for a bright, aggressive tone that cuts through the mix. |
| Master Volume | 10 | Guitar volume full up — roll back to clean up the gain or drop level. |
| Tone 1 | Leave at default | Not used for the bridge pickup. |
| Tone 2 | 10 | Tone wide open — roll it down to soften the high end. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — Amplification and tone shaping
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | 04 CLASSIC ROCK | Starting point for a mid-forward, crunchy tone similar to the Laney Supergroup. |
| Gain | 7 | Increase gain to achieve the saturated tube crunch with treble boost characteristic of the original tone. |
| Volume | 5 | Set to balance the output level without overpowering the mix. |
| Treble | 6 | Boost treble slightly to emulate the bright edge of the original tone. |
| Bass | 4 | Reduce bass to maintain a tight, mid-focused presence. |
| Master | 5 | Set master volume to control overall loudness without affecting tone. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
What Black Sabbath actually used
Recorded in June 1970 at Regent Sound Studios and Island Studios in London, 'Paranoid' was created spontaneously during a studio session. Tony Iommi's distinctive guitar tone was achieved through his modified Gibson SG, a custom-modified Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster, and Laney amplification. The recording process emphasized a raw and straightforward approach, capturing the band's live energy.
- 1965 Gibson SG Special 'Monkey' — main. Modified with John Birch Simplux neck and Chromium bridge P-90 style pickups; polyurethane-lacquered fretboard
- Modified Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster — signal boost. Modified by John Birch for full-range boost
- Laney LA 100 SLP (Supergroup) — amplification. Driving a Laney 4x12 cabinet, likely with Celestion G12H speakers
- Neumann U67 Microphone — recording. Close mic placement
Tuning: Standard
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.guitarchalk.com/amp-settings-paranoid-black-sabbath/
- https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-black-sabbath-paranoid
- https://www.tonedb.co/tones/black-sabbath/paranoid/lead-guitar