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Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Recorded on 22 February 1968 at CBS Studios, New Bond Street, London, Peter Green's lead on "Black Magic Woman" was tracked live with his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard directly into a Marshall JTM45 amp and a 4x12 Celestion Greenback cabinet, using a single mic on the amp. Green employed the out-of-phase neck pickup for the rhythm parts and switched to the bridge pickup for the soaring solo, giving the track its distinctive, slightly hollow, vocal-like tone.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (out-of-phase neck pickup)
Guitar
Peter Green's 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, featuring an out-of-phase neck pickup, delivered the thin-nasal, singing lead tone that defines "Black Magic Woman".
Marshall JTM45 (50-watt)
Amp
He ran the Les Paul through a modest-gain Marshall JTM45, cranked just enough to push the tubes into a warm, natural overdrive that captures the song's smooth sustain.
Marshall 4x12 Celestion Greenback Cabinet (1960s)
Cabinet
The amp was mated to a 4x12 Celestion Greenback cabinet, whose speakers added the characteristic mid-range punch and subtle compression to the tone.
Alternatives
Epiphone Les Paul Standard '59 Reissue
Reissue · for the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (out-of-phase neck pickup)
Marshall 1962 4x12 Cabinet (Celestion G12)
Modern equivalent · for the Marshall 4x12 Celestion Greenback Cabinet (1960s)
Marshall JTM45 reissue
Reissue · for the Marshall JTM45 (50-watt)
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Use the bridge pickup for the solo, picking gently to let the note ring.
- 2.Dial the amp to low gain and let the tube's natural breakup provide smooth overdrive.
- 3.Engage the out-of-phase neck pickup for rhythm parts to achieve the thin, nasal tone.
- 4.Employ legato phrasing with subtle bends and vibrato, mimicking Green's vocal-like style.
- 5.Set the guitar's volume knob high and tone knob moderately back to retain warmth.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Black Magic Woman guitar tone?
The available research points to 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (out-of-phase neck pickup) into Marshall JTM45 (50-watt). The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Black Magic Woman amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Black Magic Woman in?
The current research record lists Standard (E A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Black Magic Woman tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
