Iron Man amp settings — Marshall DSL40CR

The Black Sabbath guitar tone for “Iron Man”, dialed in for a Marshall DSL40CR with a Tagima T500. Studio version, Paranoid (1970)

Original rig

1965 Gibson SG Special (P-90 bridge pickup) -> modified Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster -> Laney Supergroup LA 100 BL into Laney 4x12 (Celestion G12-25M Greenbacks)

Thick, mid-heavy British proto-metal crunch with tight bass and cutting upper-mid bite

Amp settings — Marshall DSL40CR

CHANNELClassic Gain (Crunch mode)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Mid	8
Treble	6
Presence	6
Reverb	1
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster (Treble Booster)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (run into the front of the amp to push the preamp like Iommi's modified unit)

Boost 7

Why these settings

The DSL40CR's Classic Gain Crunch mode emulates the early cranked British stack response needed for Iommi's foundational tone without an external pedal. To compensate for the Tagima T500's bright single-coil bridge pickup compared to Tony's hotter, darker P-90s, roll your guitar tone back to 7 and push the amp mids to 8. Resonance on the DSL40CR should be set around 5 to keep the low-end chunky but controlled.

PRO TIPTony Iommi tuned down a half-step occasionally on later tracks, but for Paranoid in standard E tuning, use light strings and pick aggressively right over the bridge to emulate the attack of his prosthetic plastic fingertips.

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These settings are for a Marshall DSL40CR. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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