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1979 (Remastered 2012) amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

The The Smashing Pumpkins guitar tone for “1979 (Remastered 2012)”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 50 MkII with a Epiphone Explorer. Studio version, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)

Original rig

Fender Stratocaster (DiMarzio pickups) -> Boss CE-2 Chorus -> MXR Phase 90 -> Marshall JCM800 2203 (Low sensitivity input, edge-of-breakup)

Glassy, shimmering clean with lush chorus modulation — dreamy, chimey, touch-sensitive with subtle compression and swirling texture

Amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

CHANNELClean amp typeBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPmiddle TONE10 VOLUME8

Signal chain

01Onboard Mod FX (Chorus)

Engage the Katana onboard MOD section set to the Boss CE-2 style Chorus

Rate 4 · Depth 6

02Onboard FX (Phaser)

Engage onboard Phaser block with slow, subtle swirl to replicate Billy Corgan's MXR Phase 90 subtle sweep

Speed 3 · Depth 4

Why these settings

The Katana 50 MkII lacks a physical Presence knob, so treble is boosted to 7 on the Clean channel to match the glassy top-end chime of the original Strat-into-Marshall tracking. To compensate for the darker, higher-output humbuckers on your Epiphone Explorer, roll your guitar volume back to 8 and use both pickups combined (middle toggle position) to thin the midrange and add acoustic-like clarity. The signature dreamy modulation is fully achieved using the Katana's onboard Chorus and slow Phaser effects without needing external pedals.

PRO TIPUse a very light, thin pick (0.50mm–0.60mm) and strum with an open, relaxed wrist across the muted higher strings to produce the percussive, acoustic-like string rattle that gives the riff its signature bounce.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boss Katana 50 MkII. 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.