Paranoid Amp Settings
Paranoid is Black Sabbath at their most urgent — a fast, driving riff through Iommi's Laney Supergroup that proved heavy could also be catchy. Written in minutes as a filler track, it became Sabbath's biggest hit.
What Makes This Tone Iconic
Unlike the slow doom of Iron Man, Paranoid is fast and aggressive. Iommi's Laney tone is brighter and tighter here, with a driving energy that presaged thrash metal by a decade. The riff is deceptively simple but the tone — thick, warm, and propulsive — makes it unforgettable. It showed that heavy music could be accessible without compromising its weight.
Key Tone Elements
- Laney Supergroup LA100BL with more treble presence than Iron Man
- Gibson SG Special — warm but cutting through the mix
- Rangemaster treble booster pushing the amp harder
- Faster, more aggressive picking style than typical Sabbath
- Standard tuning (unlike some later Sabbath songs)
Original Recording Settings
Original Gear
- Guitar
- Gibson SG Special
- Pickups
- Gibson P-90 single coils (bridge)
- Amplifier
- Laney Supergroup LA100BL
- Channel
- Cranked
- Tuning
- standard
- Pickup Selector
- bridge
- Strings
- Light gauge
Same setup as Iron Man.
Amp Settings
Effects Chain
Playing Technique
Fast, driving riff with aggressive picking. The main riff is a rapid descending pattern. Quick, punchy lead phrases. High-energy throughout.
Sources+
- Guitar World: Tony Iommi interviews
- Iron Man autobiography
- Equipboard.com - Tony Iommi
Get This Tone on Your Gear
Adapt the "Paranoid" tone by Black Sabbath to your specific amp, guitar, and pedals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Related Tones
Iron Man
Black Sabbath
Smoke on the Water
Deep Purple
Back in Black
AC/DC
The Trooper
Iron Maiden