Paranoid amp settings — Harley Benton HB-20R
The Black Sabbath guitar tone for “Paranoid”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HB-20R with a Harley Benton Telecaster hh20. Studio version, Paranoid album (1970)
1965 Gibson SG Special with P90 pickups, Laney Supergroup 100W head (Presence 10, Bass 0, Middle 10, Treble 10, Gain 10), Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster treble booster
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 8 |
| Bass | 2 |
| Mid | 8 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 7 |
01Treble Booster / Overdrive (e.g. TC Electronic Spark Booster, Behringer VT999)
RECOMMENDED — not owned. Essential for Iommi's sound; the Rangemaster pushed the amp into saturation and cut bass frequencies. A basic treble booster or bright OD pedal is needed to reach this tone.
Iommi ran bass at 0 and everything else maxed on a cranked tube Laney. Your HB-20R is a small solid-state practice amp that cannot replicate power tube saturation — I've set gain high (8) but the real crunch must come from a treble booster or OD pedal in front. Bass stays very low (2) to approximate his scooped low-end; mids pushed high (8) for that honky bark. No presence knob on your amp.
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These settings are for a Harley Benton HB-20R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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