Tone library / Black sabbath / Paranoid

Paranoid amp settings — Ibanez Ibz10gv2s solid state combo

The Black sabbath guitar tone for “Paranoid”, dialed in for a Ibanez Ibz10gv2s solid state combo with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, Paranoid album (1970)

Original rig

Gibson SG Standard with humbuckers (bridge pickup) → Dallas Rangemaster treble booster → Laney Supergroup 100W. Amp set with bass 0, mid/presence/treble all at 10, gain cranked for natural tube overdrive.

Aggressive, biting mid-forward crunch with treble-boosted attack and minimal low-end — raw, punchy British proto-metal grind
Amp settings — Ibanez Ibz10gv2s solid state combo
GAIN 7 BASS 3 MID 8 TREBLE 7 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass3
Mid8
Treble7
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Treble Booster or Overdrive (e.g., TC Electronic Spark Booster, EHX Soul Food, or Boss SD-1)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for this tone. The Dallas Rangemaster pushed Iommi's amp into saturation with added treble bite. A treble booster or transparent overdrive with the tone cranked will get you closest. Without this pedal, the tone will lack the aggressive edge and harmonic saturation that defines the track.

Level/Volume 7 · Treble/Tone 8 · Gain/Drive 4
Why these settings

The Ibanez IBZ10GV2 is a small solid-state practice amp that cannot replicate Laney tube saturation on its own — its gain maxed still sounds thin and fizzy. Compensating for your Strat's bright single-coils vs Iommi's dark SG humbuckers: bass raised from original's 0 to 3 for body, mid pushed to 8 to approximate the SG's thick midrange, treble at 7 (not maxed) because single-coils are already bright. The amp lacks presence and reverb knobs — these are nulled. A drive pedal is mandatory to reach this tone's saturation level.

PRO TIPIommi used the bridge pickup with tone wide open and attacked the strings hard near the bridge for that percussive, biting articulation. Angle your pick aggressively and dig in — the Rangemaster responded to pick dynamics, so lighter touches clean up while hard strokes get that snarling grind.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Ibanez Ibz10gv2s solid state combo. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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