Monuments to an Elegy album cover - The Smashing Pumpkins
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Tiberius" by The Smashing Pumpkins - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Tiberius"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain8
Bass6.5
Mid5.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume8

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone10
Volume10
Recording notes

From Monuments to an Elegy (2014). No source ties a rig to this song, so Billy Corgan's usual Stratocaster into a Marshall JCM900 stands in. Run a hot, saturated tone on the bridge pickup. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Tiberius" Tone

  1. What guitar did The Smashing Pumpkins use on "Tiberius"?

    The guitar on "Tiberius" (released 2014) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Tiberius" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 8. 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.

  3. Can I play "Tiberius" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Tiberius" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Tiberius" by The Smashing Pumpkins are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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