Tone library / Deep purple / Smoke in the water

Smoke in the water amp settings — Boss GT-1

The Deep purple guitar tone for “Smoke in the water”, dialed in for a Boss GT-1 with a Squier Bullet Stratocaster. Studio version, Machine Head (1972)

Original rig

1968 Fender Stratocaster + modified Marshall Major 200W + Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster (or reel-to-reel preamp boost)

Dry, punchy classic British rock crunch with percussive fourths and mid-range bite
Amp settings — Boss GT-1
CHANNELMS1959 I+II amp block + 4x12 Marshall cabBRIGHToffBOOSTon
GAIN 6 BASS 6 MID 7 TREBLE 7 PRESENCE 6 REVERB 1 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble7
Presence6
Reverb1
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01FX1 / OD-DS: Treble Booster / Booster block

Placed before the amp block to push the Marshall front-end like Blackmore's Hornby-Skewes

Drive 3 · Tone 6 · Level 8
Why these settings

The Boss GT-1 MS1959 I+II jumpered Marshall model provides the classic Plexi/Major crunch without getting overly fizzy. On a Squier Bullet Stratocaster, roll tone back to 8 to tame the ceramic bridge pickup's top-end bite to match Blackmore's thicker vintage single-coil tone. Use the onboard booster block with modest drive and high level to hit the preamp just like his tape deck/treble booster setup.

PRO TIPDo not use a plectrum on the intro riff—pluck the inverted fourth double-stops with your thumb and index finger together to get the round, percussive snap unique to Blackmore's attack.

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