How to Dial In "Black Saturday" by Soundgarden - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Black Saturday"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From King Animal (2012). Produced by Adam Kasper with Soundgarden, recorded between February 2011 and August 2012 at Studio X and Avast! in Seattle and TNC in Los Angeles. Chris Cornell wrote the music and lyrics, and Kim Thayil arranged the horns on it. Kim Thayil is tied to a Guild S-100 Polara and Mesa/Boogie amps, but no source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Guild S-100 Polara through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier stands in. Set the amp at a driven crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "Black Saturday" Tone
What guitar did Soundgarden use on "Black Saturday"?
The guitar on "Black Saturday" (released 2012) isn't documented; the Guild S-100 Polara above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Black Saturday" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, Volume 6.5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Black Saturday" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Black Saturday" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Black Saturday" by Soundgarden are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.