Tone library / Soundgarden / Blackhole sun

Blackhole sun amp settings — Valeton GP-200

The Soundgarden guitar tone for “Blackhole sun”, dialed in for a Valeton GP-200 with a Epiphone Les Paul Studio. Studio version, Superunknown (1994) - Iconic verse arpeggio tone

Original rig

Fender Stratocaster / Guild S-100 into Leslie 16 rotary speaker cabinet and Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier / Marshall JCM800 / Fender Twin Reverb

Clean, warm swirling rotary-speaker modulation with ambient space and chime

Amp settings — Valeton GP-200

CHANNELUS Twin (Fender Twin Reverb model) + 2x12 Cab IRBRIGHTonBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	5
Mid	6
Treble	7
Reverb	4
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPneck+middle TONE9 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Valeton GP-200 PRE/DRIVE block (Compressor)

Set to classic studio compressor model for chime and sustained arpeggios

Sustain 6 · Attack 4 · Level 7

02Valeton GP-200 MOD block (Rotary / Leslie)

Essential for the Leslie 16 rotary speaker swirl on the verse arpeggios

Rate 6 · Depth 8 · Mix 7

03Valeton GP-200 DLY block (Analog Delay)

Set subtle analog delay (around 320ms) for space behind the rotary modulation

Time 4 · Feedback 3 · Mix 3

Why these settings

The studio verse tone relies on a Fender Twin/Leslie combination recorded with single coils. Because you are using humbuckers on an Epiphone Les Paul Studio, select the middle (both pickups) position and boost GP-200 amp treble to 7 while keeping gain low to prevent your humbuckers from clipping the rotary modulation. For the chorus heavy rhythm parts, kick on an external high-gain Marshall/Mesa drive block.

PRO TIPLet every note in the verse chords ring fully into one another rather than staccato picking—the Leslie effect creates its signature warble from the harmonic overlap of sustained open intervals.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Valeton GP-200. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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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.