Meeting of the Spirits

The recording

‘Meeting of the Spirits’ was recorded in August 1971 at CBS Studios in New York City. John McLaughlin tracked his lead parts on a 1965 Gibson SG Standard, using the bridge pickup and a hard‑picking attack. The signal passed through an MXR Phase 90 for a subtle swirl before hitting a cranked Marshall Super Lead 100‑watt head into a classic 4×12 cabinet, delivering the aggressive, sustain‑rich tone that defines the piece.

Reported gear

1965 Gibson SG Standard

Guitar

McLaughlin used a 1965 Gibson SG Standard, favoring the bridge humbucker to achieve the thick, sustain‑rich lead tone heard on 'Meeting of the Spirits'.

MXR Phase 90

Phase

A subtle phase shift from an MXR Phase 90 adds a swirling texture to McLaughlin’s lead lines on the track.

Marshall Super Lead 100‑watt (Model 1959)

Amplifier

The raw overdriven tone was achieved by cranking a Marshall Super Lead 100‑watt head, which provided the high‑gain, saturated sound characteristic of the song.

Marshall 4×12 Cabinet (Model 1960/61) with Celestion Greenbacks

Cabinet

The amp was paired with a classic Marshall 4×12 cabinet loaded with Celestion Greenback speakers, delivering tight lows and aggressive mids.

Alternatives

Epiphone SG Standard

Budget alternative · for the 1965 Gibson SG Standard

$250 to $350

Marshall DSL100

Modern equivalent · for the Marshall Super Lead 100‑watt (Model 1959)

$900 to $1,100

MXR Phase 90

Still made · for the MXR Phase 90

$150 to $200

Marshall 1960A 4×12 Cabinet

Modern equivalent · for the Marshall 4×12 Cabinet (Model 1960/61) with Celestion Greenbacks

$1,200 to $1,500

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Use strict alternate picking for rapid scalar runs.
2. 2.Select the bridge pickup for maximum bite and sustain.
3. 3.Apply a light palm‑mute to tighten fast passages.
4. 4.Incorporate quick hammer‑ons and pull‑offs to emulate McLaughlin’s fluid phrasing.