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How To Sound Like Billy Corgan

How To Sound Like Billy Corganplay icon
Tom Butwin
By Tom ButwinJan 29, 2026
Tom Butwin
Tom Butwin is a freelance contributor to Premier Guitar and also a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and YouTube personality. He studied at Oakland University, and he's released three original records, as well as two musical theater cover albums. (Yes, musical theater. You read that correctly.) You can connect with him at https://www.TomButwin.com.
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Ever wondered how Billy Corgan achieves that massive "chainsaw" fuzz tone that defined an era of alternative rock? In this edition of "Blueprints", PG contributor Tom Butwin dives deep into the gear that makes it possible, featuring the Reverend Billy Corgan Z-One with its unique Bass Contour control, the Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp Big Muff Pi for that essential seventies-style grind, and the Gosh Amplification Problem Solver to provide a classic Marshall-style foundation.

Billy Corgan Z-OneBilly Corgan Z-One
Reverend

Billy Corgan Z-One

Street price $1,499
Buy now
Op Amp Big Muff PiOp Amp Big Muff Pi
Electro-Harmonix

Op Amp Big Muff Pi

Street price $96.20
Buy now
CIOKS DC7 Pedal Power Supply - Black

CIOKS DC7 Pedal Power Supply - Black

$267.49Sweetwater Sound$289.00Guitar Center
CIOKS SOL Pedal Power Supply - Cassette

CIOKS SOL Pedal Power Supply - Cassette

$219.00Sweetwater Sound

Gosh Problem Solver

$2,800GoshSound.com
Ernie Ball 2221 Nickel Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings - 24 Pack

Ernie Ball 2221 Nickel Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings - 24 Pack

$109.99Guitar Center

opamp-big-muffreverend-zonetom-butwingosh-amplificationbilly-corganblueprintsrig-building

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