How to Dial In "The Sacred and Profane" by The Smashing Pumpkins - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Sacred and Profane"
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 Machina/The Machines of God (2000). Machina/The Machines of God is the fifth studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on February 29, 2000, by Virgin Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Marshall JCM900 4100 Dual Reverb, the rig we use for The Smashing Pumpkins' other songs from Machina/The Machines of God, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in C standard (C F B♭ E♭ G C), two whole steps below standard.
Common Questions About the "The Sacred and Profane" Tone
What guitar did The Smashing Pumpkins use on "The Sacred and Profane"?
The guitar on "The Sacred and Profane" (released 2000) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in C Standard (C F B♭ E♭ G C), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "The Sacred and Profane" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7.5. 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 "The Sacred and Profane" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Sacred and Profane" 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 "The Sacred and Profane" by The Smashing Pumpkins are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.