Gear Roundups
How To Sound Like Billy Corgan
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.
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.













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