How to Dial In "War Dreams of Itself" by The Smashing Pumpkins - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "War Dreams of Itself"
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 Aghori Mhori Mei (2024). Written and produced by Billy Corgan with production help from Howard Willing, recorded between 2022 and 2024 and released in August 2024. Track five, at 3:28. 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 nearest rig to the one The Smashing Pumpkins is documented with, 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 "War Dreams of Itself" Tone
What guitar did The Smashing Pumpkins use on "War Dreams of Itself"?
The guitar on "War Dreams of Itself" (released 2024) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster 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 "War Dreams of Itself" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, 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.
Can I play "War Dreams of Itself" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "War Dreams of Itself" 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 "War Dreams of Itself" by The Smashing Pumpkins are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.