Song Rig

Burden in My Hand

Kim Thayil · Down on the Upside · 1996

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Soundgarden's most commercial-adjacent single from their final album — Kim uses a cleaner, more open-sounding tone than his typical SG/Marshall setup. The acoustic intro transitions to an electric tone that is warmer and less distorted than Superunknown, reflecting the more restrained production of the final album.

Signal Chain

1Gibson SG (neck pickup, volume ~8)
2Marshall (lower gain than previous albums)
3Acoustic guitar for intro section

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume6

Bass6

Mid7

Treble6

Reverb3

Lower gain than the earlier Soundgarden albums — Down on the Upside was produced more cleanly. Kim's tone here is closest to a conventional hard rock guitar sound rather than the more extreme approaches of Badmotorfinger and Superunknown.

Technique

How to Play It

Hybrid acoustic/electric arrangement — the song begins with fingerpicked acoustic and transitions to electric, requiring two separate instruments and setups. The electric section uses conventional major and minor chord voicings rather than the open/modal tunings of earlier work.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Acoustic guitar for intro → SG or Les Paul → Marshall at moderate gain (6/10). More accessible than most Soundgarden material — no unusual tunings required.

Your Gear