Paranoid amp settings — Boston GA10 kombo

The Black sabbath guitar tone for “Paranoid”, dialed in for a Boston GA10 kombo with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio album version, Paranoid (1970) - main rhythm track

Original rig

Gibson SG Special (P-90s) into modified Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster into Laney LA100BL Supergroup head & Laney 4x12 cab

Raw, mid-forward vintage British crunch with biting upper-mid bark and tight, trimmed low-end

Amp settings — Boston GA10 kombo

CHANNELOverdrive / Drive switch ONBOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	6

Don’t have a Boston GA10 kombo? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Dallas Rangemaster (Treble Booster)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Boost 8

Why these settings

The Boston GA-10 is a basic practice amp featuring standard Gain, Bass, and Treble controls without dedicated mid or presence knobs. To mimic Tony Iommi's pushed Laney and Rangemaster treble booster on this amp alone, the Drive switch is engaged with Treble pushed to 7 and Bass kept moderate at 5 to prevent the small speaker from flubbing. A dedicated Treble Booster or vintage overdrive pedal is recommended to fully capture the biting upper-mid frequency push of the original recording.

PRO TIPPick forcefully right near the bridge saddles with medium-heavy downstrokes to emulate Iommi's sharp, cutting attack and light-gauge string snap.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boston GA10 kombo. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

Find your amp

Browse

Paranoid on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Black sabbath tonesALL SONGS Ibanez GIO GRG170DX tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.