Billy Corgan — Rig Network
12 gear items · 49 artist connections · Billy Corgan profile
Guitars
Primary guitar on Siamese Dream and much of the Smashing Pumpkins catalogue. The definitive Corgan guitar — a mid-1970s SG with humbucker pickups into a cranked Mesa.
Unique to this artist in the database
Used extensively on layered tracks for the brighter, single-coil character beneath the SG crunch layers. Essential to the Pumpkins layering approach.
Used during the Adore and Machina eras for heavier, darker rhythm tracks.
Recent signature model from Reverend with custom Billy Corgan pickups and a unique body shape.
Unique to this artist in the database
Amplifiers
The primary amp on Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie. The Mark IIC+ is the amplifier most associated with the Pumpkins sustained lead tone — same amp Carlos Santana used.
Unique to this artist in the database
Used alongside the Mesa for heavier crunch tracks and live performance.
Used on select Siamese Dream recording sessions for certain clean and semi-clean layers.
British valves for additional tonal variety in the layering process.
Pedals & Effects
The most important single pedal in the Pumpkins sound. Heavy fuzz sustain for leads and certain rhythm tracks. Used on virtually every Siamese Dream lead part.
Phase effect used in Corgan's more experimental solo passages.
Unique to this artist in the database
Compression for clean passages and consistent attack across the many layered guitar tracks.
Unique to this artist in the database
Later-period rig — transparent overdrive for pushing the amp into sustain on stage.
Unique to this artist in the database
Most Similar Rigs
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