Sound Like Tony Iommi

Tony Iommi is one of the most recognisable voices in heavy metal — a aggressive and precise player who shaped the sound of a defining era for electric guitar. Tony Iommi invented heavy metal. After losing the tips of two fingers in an industrial accident, he tuned his strings down — creating the dark, slow, heavily de-tuned riff vocabulary that launched a genre. His SG into a loud Laney, pushed with a treble booster, is the foundation of all heavy music that followed. Below are complete rig guides at four budget levels, so you can start building their sound whether you're just starting out or ready to invest in the full setup.