Tone library / Black sabbath / A national acrobat

A national acrobat amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

The Black sabbath guitar tone for “A national acrobat”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 50 MkII with a Epiphone Les Paul Classic. Studio cut, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)

Original rig

Gibson SG Special (Monkey SG with custom John Birch / P-90 pickups) -> Dallas Rangemaster treble booster (modified) -> Laney Supergroup 100W Tube Head -> Laney 4x12 Cabs

Dark, heavy British fuzz-crunch with biting upper-mid bark and tight low-end
Amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII
CHANNELCrunch amp typeBOOSTon
GAIN 6 BASS 6 MID 8 TREBLE 7 REVERB 1 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass6
Mid8
Treble7
Reverb1
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Katana Built-In Booster (Treble Booster mode)

Engage the Katana onboard Booster dialed to the Treble Booster / Dallas Rangemaster voice

Drive 7 · Tone 8 · Bottom 4
Why these settings

Iommi's tone relies on a Dallas Rangemaster treble booster driving cranked Laney Supergroup amps into heavy mid saturation. On the Katana 50 MkII, the Crunch amp type provides the vintage British power-amp foundation, while the onboard Treble Booster effect cuts excessive low flub and pushes the essential biting 2-3kHz midrange. The Katana 50 MkII lacks a physical presence knob on the faceplate, so mid and treble are set forward to capture the cutting Sabbath attack.

PRO TIPTune down 1.5 steps to C# standard (C#-F#-B-E-G#-C#) with light gauge strings (.008 or .009 set), picking hard near the bridge to replicate Iommi's slack-string metallic attack.

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These settings are for a Boss Katana 50 MkII. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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