War Pigs

The recording

Tony Iommi recorded his lead and rhythm parts on a left‑handed 1970 Gibson SG Standard, using the bridge pickup and standard E tuning. The signal went into a Laney amp, driven hard and brightened by a Dallas Rangemaster treble booster, giving the riff its massive low‑end and cutting edge. The guitar tracks were double‑tracked and placed front‑center in the mix by producer Rodger Bain, with the heavy riff recorded at high volume to capture natural tube saturation.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

1970 Gibson SG Standard

Guitar

Iommi used his left‑handed 1970 Gibson SG Standard, set to bridge pickup, to deliver the iconic heavy riffs on War Pigs.

Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster (1970)

Treble Booster

A Dallas Rangemaster was placed in front of the amp, adding a sharp high‑frequency boost that helped push the Laney into saturated distortion.

Laney Amplifier (1970s)

Amp

The Laney amp, a 100‑watt all‑tube unit, was run at high volume to provide the thick low‑end crunch that defines the War Pigs tone.

Alternatives

Gibson SG Standard '70s Reissue

Reissue · for the 1970 Gibson SG Standard

$1,200 to 1,500

Laney Amplifier (reissue)

Still made · for the Laney Amplifier (1970s)

$2,200 to 2,800

Klon Centaur

Modern equivalent · for the Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster (1970)

$1,500 to 2,000

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Select the bridge pickup and pull the tone knob fully up for maximum bite.
2. 2.Use a heavy‑pick (≈0.9 mm) and attack the strings with a firm, aggressive pick stroke.
3. 3.Set the amp volume high to push the Laney into natural tube saturation, then engage the Rangemaster for extra edge.
4. 4.Keep the guitar in standard tuning and mute unused strings during the intro arpeggio for clarity.