Tone library / The smashing pumpkins / Cherab rock

Cherab rock amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

The The smashing pumpkins guitar tone for “Cherab rock”, dialed in for a Positive Grid Spark 40 with a Reverend Bc1. Live, 1993-1994 Siamese Dream Tour (iconic main riff and wall of fuzz)

Original rig

Fender '57 Reissue Stratocaster (Lace Sensor pickups) -> Electro-Harmonix 'Op-Amp' Big Muff Pi -> Marshall JCM800 2203 (KT88 tubes)

Thick, compressed, scooped wall-of-sound fuzz with aggressive upper-mid cut and singing sustain

Amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

CHANNELPlexi (British Lead 800)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	6
Mid	4
Treble	7
Reverb	2
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Jim Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95

Parked forward/toe-down or rocked during the solo; keep bypassed for the main riff

02Fuzz (Onboard Spark 'Black Op' / Fuzz model)

Primary gain source; using the Spark's onboard Big Muff emulation

Sustain 8 · Tone 6 · Volume 7

Why these settings

The Spark 40 is a modeling amp, so its onboard Big Muff-style fuzz block supplies the massive Siamese Dream fuzz while the JCM800 amp model is set cleanly with low gain to prevent muddy double-gain breakup. The Reverend BC-1 uses Railhammer pickups that have a tighter, meatier bass and punchier midrange than Corgan's Lace Sensor Strat, so the amp's mids are slightly scooped to 4 and treble pushed to 7 to retain articulation. For the quiet intro octaves, roll guitar volume down to 6 and bypass the onboard fuzz block.

PRO TIPFor the signature Cherub Rock octave riff, mute the A and G strings naturally with the underside of your index finger while aggressively strumming across all six strings to hit the driving percussive attack of the record.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Positive Grid Spark 40. 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.