Tony Iommi Amp Settings
EQ dial positions, gain structure, and how to replicate the sound on any amp
Marshall Super Bass / Laney GH100L — Dial Settings
SourcedAll values on a 0–10 scale. Adjust by ear — room acoustics and specific amp variants affect the exact position.
Choosing the Right Amp
Amp at Every Budget
Getting the Most From Your Amp
- Use the amp's own drive channel rather than stacking too many pedals —Tony Iommi's tone benefits from amp-driven saturation.
- Master volume matters — many classic tones only work at significant volume when tubes are working hard.
Related Gear
Similar Guitarists
Head-to-Head Comparisons
FAQ
Tony Iommi Amp Settings — Common Questions
Tony Iommi uses the Marshall Super Bass / Laney GH100L with Gain at 9, Bass at 8, Mid at 7, Treble at 5, and Presence at 6. Heavy bass emphasis compensates for down-tuning (C# standard) played with homemade thimble tips over fingertips. Early Sabbath: Marshall Super Bass cranked. Later: Laney Klipp / GH100L with similar settings.
Tony Iommi's primary amp is the Marshall Super Bass / Laney GH100L. At different budgets, similar tones can be achieved with: Boss Katana 50 MkII (£200 · Beginner), Boss Katana 50 MkII (£500 · Sweet Spot), Marshall DSL40CR (£1,000 · Pro-Level), Marshall DSL100H (£2,500 · Premium).
Tony Iommi sets Gain to 9 on the Marshall Super Bass / Laney GH100L. Heavy bass emphasis compensates for down-tuning (C# standard) played with homemade thimble tips over fingertips.
You can get close to Tony Iommi's tone on any amp by focusing on the EQ character rather than specific gain levels. Key: use balanced mids (5–6) as a starting point. Use the amp's drive channel rather than external pedals for the primary distortion. A Boss Katana or Blackstar HT series can approximate the tone at low cost.
For Tony Iommi's EQ signature: Bass 7/10, Mid 6/10, Treble 5/10, Presence 5/10. The tone is characterised as: dark, doom, heavy-riff. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear to your specific amp and room.