Get this tone on your gear
Choose your guitar and amp to get exact knob settings.
The recording
Recorded in a few days at Regent Sound Studios with a single microphone placed in front of Iommi's cabinet, the rhythm tracks were captured live and the solo was later overdubbed. Producer Rodger Bain added a ring‑modulator to the solo and used close‑and‑ambient miking to give the guitar a tight, punchy yet spacious sound.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)·Strings Ernie Ball Power Slinky .011‑.048
Signal chain
Original gear
1960s Gibson SG Special
Guitar
Tony Iommi recorded the Paranoid riff with his 1960s Gibson SG Special fitted with bridge P‑90 single‑coil pickups, delivering a warm yet cutting tone.
Danelectro Rangemaster Treble Booster
Pedal
A Danelectro Rangemaster treble booster was placed in front of the Laney amp, pushing the gain and adding a bright edge that defines the Paranoid tone.
Laney Supergroup LA100BL
Amplifier
Iommi used a Laney Supergroup 100‑watt head, cranked to full, to deliver the bright, tight, and propulsive distortion heard on Paranoid.
Alternatives
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Attack the strings with a fast, aggressive alternate pick near the bridge.
- 2.Engage the Rangemaster at full boost to tighten the low end and add bright edge.
- 3.Use slight palm‑muting on down‑strokes for the chugging rhythm sections.
- 4.Keep the guitar in standard tuning and let the bridge P‑90 sing for maximum bite.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Paranoid guitar tone?
The available research points to 1960s Gibson SG Special into Laney Supergroup LA100BL. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Paranoid 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 Paranoid 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 Paranoid 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.
