Paranoid amp settings — Marshall JCM800 2203

The Black Sabbath guitar tone for “Paranoid”, dialed in for a Marshall JCM800 2203 with a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. Studio version, Paranoid album (1970)

Original rig

Gibson SG Standard, Laney LA100BL head, Dallas Rangemaster treble booster, no other effects

Aggressive mid-forward crunch with searing treble cut and minimal low-end

Amp settings — Marshall JCM800 2203

BRIGHToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	2
Mid	8
Treble	7
Presence	7
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Treble Booster (Rangemaster-style)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This is critical to the Iommi tone; it adds the sizzling high-mid push and tightens the attack. An Analogman Beano Boost, BSM Treble Booster, or TC Electronic Spark Booster set bright will get you there.

Boost 7

Why these settings

Iommi ran his Laney with presence/mid/treble at 10 and bass at 0. Your JCM800 has a tighter, more aggressive midrange than the Laney Supergroup, so I pulled treble back to 7 and mid to 8 to avoid ice-pick harshness. Bass stays very low at 2—the Les Paul's humbuckers add low-end mass the SG didn't have. Without a Rangemaster, you'll get the crunch but miss the sizzling harmonic push that defines the tone.

PRO TIPIommi's picking attack is the secret weapon—he digs in hard with the pick angled slightly, producing that percussive bark on the low strings. Roll your guitar volume to 8 for the verse to clean up slightly, then slam it to 10 for the main riff to hit harder.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall JCM800 2203. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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