Billy Corgan

Featured in this December 16, 2022 Laney blog article.

After purchasing a Laney LA100SM Head on the 2nd hand market and searching for a Laney LA412 Cabinet, Billy Corgan reached out to our family-run company, based in the West Midlands UK, to get more of “that God-like power” as he so puts it.

Of course, we were happy to help him out!

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In addition, Billy also has two Laney LA412 cabinets which he has fallen in love with, so much so that he has pushed aside the same cabinets he had been using since the early 90’s Siamese Dream days.

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WHICH LANEY AMPS IS BILLY CORGAN CURRENTLY USING ON TOUR IN 2022/2023?

Billy’s current Laney amp setup includes two 100-watt Laney LA100SM Super Modified hand-wired tube guitar heads alongside a variety of other amps. Billy also runs all of his amplifiers through Laney LA412 4 x 12″ Celestion G12H loaded cabinets.

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“I’ve always chased vintage Laney cabinets. I don’t know if anybody knows the market but you cannot find vintage Laney cabinets anywhere. I’ve looked and they are nowhere!

I saw that Laney had put out these cabinets (LA412 4 x 12″) and they all sold. I was able to find a used one and the minute we put it in the recording chain, Howard Willing (record producer, engineer and mixer) whom I’ve worked with for years since ‘97 starting with the Adore album and Smashing Pumpkins, looks to me and says “well I like that better!” so immediately the vintage Laney cabinet superseded the same Marshall that I’ve been using since Siamese Dream.

It kicked it out of the recording line. So all those amps have been put away and I started using that Laney cabinet. For the first time since ‘93, I’m using new cabinets on tour. I’ve literally used the same cabinets since 93’ and now I’ve replaced those with the Laney vintage cabinets.”

Used live for the shows leading up to and during the tours for Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts and Aghori Mori Mei, as known from the following sources:

• Equipboard, Submission 421939 (Billy Corgan's Minotaur Sonic Terrors Fuzz & Burn) (2022), submitted by minotaursonicterrors

[https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/source/image/128727/309489153_379999027682096_6626062582696425235_n.jpg]

Billy Corgan endorses Minotaur Sonic Terrors guitar pedals. https://www.minotaurst.com/artists.html#artists On this video https://youtu.be/CD-RYfXstVM at 00:24 you can see the Minotaur Sonic Terrors - Fuzz & Burn (white and black) at the far right of his pedalboard and right next to it is the Minotaur Sonic Terrors - Evil Eye MKIII fuzz (grey)

• Video from Smashing Pumpkins' September 20, 2022 show at Chicago Metro (visible at 0:24 and throughout)

• Photos (including this one) taken by Chris Sweda at the September 20, 2022 show at Chicago Metro, published in Chicago Tribune, "Review: The Smashing Pumpkins return to Chicago’s Metro in a surprise show, upbeat and newly on fire" by Bob Gendron (September 21, 2022)

• Instagram, @billycorgan, October 1, 2022 story (larger, cropped version (pictured above))

@minotaureffects

• YouTube, Laney Amplification, "Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins Joins Laney - Plays Laney LA100SM Head & LA412 Cabinet" (October 31, 2022) (@ 0:16 and 0:33)
• Video from Smashing Pumpkins' November 5, 2022 show at Irving Plaza (visible throughout)
• Premier Guitar, "Rig Rundown: The Smashing Pumpkins [2022]" by John Bohlinger (November 23, 2022)

Billy Corgan's Pedalboard

[https://www.premierguitar.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=32176426&width=600&quality=85]

Here’s what underfoot: an RJM Mastermind GT/16 MIDI controller, an MXR CAE Power System, Analog Man Beano Boost treble booster with Mullard-style transistors, a Lehle III switching and looping tool, a Tone Bender-inspired Minotaur Sonic Terrors Evil Eye MkIII fuzz, a Strymon Brigadier delay, a Behringer Octave Divider, and a Dunlop Volume (X), used as an expression pedal for the Strymon.

• Warm Audio, photo on Featured Artists page (uploaded October 2023)
• Instagram, @kikilongo, story prior to June 23, 2024 (reposted by @smashingpumpkinsgear on June 23, 2024)

Billy Corgan uses a Fernandes Decade J1S in a sunburst color, as evidenced by the image provided. 

In the YouTube video titled "The Smashing Pumpkins Live @ Eurockéennes 04-07-1997 (Belfort, France) HQ" by Ната Емельянова, Billy Corgan can be seen using a black Fender MIJ 12-String Stratocaster during the performance of the song "XYU" at the 53:08 minute mark.

In a November 2024 interview with MSN, Billy Corgan provided a detailed overview of his current pedalboard, which includes the EarthQuaker Devices / Death By Audio Time Shadows II Subharmonic Multi-Delay Resonator. Corgan commented on the pedal, stating, "EarthQuaker Devices just put out a pedal called Time Shadows [experimental delay]. I don’t know what the hell it does, but it makes unique sounds that I’ve never heard out of a pedal." This specific pedal is identified as the second version (v2) due to its updated control layout featuring four knobs.

In a November 2024 interview with MSN, Billy Corgan confirmed his use of the Warm Audio Warmdrive on his pedalboard. He stated, "Next is my favorite lead pedal, the Warmdrive by Warm Audio. If you’re [in] a high-gain situation, not every pedal works because it fights against the square waves. You need a certain type of pedal that works with the fuzz of the amp, and the signature Carstens Amplification [Grace] amps I use are super high-gain. If I had to choose only one pedal for a full show...Something just to solo with. Right now, I’d pick that Warm Audio Warmdrive. I just love it; it’s fantastic."

In a November 2024 interview with MSN, Billy Corgan provides a detailed overview of his pedalboard, confirming the inclusion of the Catalinbread Zero Point. He describes its function, stating, "I’m using a tape flanger, the Catalinbread Zero Point. It does that temporary zero flange, which is unique because you have to step on it to engage the flange. When you step off it, the flange reverses." This statement serves as direct proof of his use of this specific guitar pedal.

In the YouTube video titled "Smashing Pumpkins - Rhinoceros - London 1991 PRO TV Master," at approximately 3:23, Billy Corgan can be seen using a DigiTech Whammy WH-1 during the solo section of the live performance.

At around 1:20 in his Rig Rundown with Premier Guitar, Billy Corgan mentions he owns a Marshall 1959RR Randy Rhoads signature head. While he does not show it, he states that he has a module in his Randall preamp which is based on the Randy Rhoads amp that he owns, and in an unrelated image (https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/source/image/14911/959.jpg) he can be seen in front of the amplifier.

In this Instagram post from Norman's Rare Guitars, you can see Billy Corgan with a Gibson Southern Jumbo. The post is captioned:

Billy Corgan holding the 1950’s Gibson Southern Jumbo that he got here at #NormansRareGuitars ⚡️⚡️⚡️

#REPOST

Writing session turns into writer’s master class! 👏 Paul Williams & Billy Corgan doing work.

Billy Corgan is seen playing a Univox Hi-Flier with a maple neck and body, and a black pickguard onstage, as evidenced by the image provided.

This effects unit was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This guitar was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop. It was custom made for him by Yamaha.

This acoustic guitar was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This 12 string acoustic guitar was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop. It was used both live and in the studio.

This guitar preamp was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This vintage combo amplifier was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This vintage solid state combo amplifier was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This synthesizer was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

The Drawmer 1960 Compressor & Mic Preamp was sold on his official Reverb.com shop. Corgan stated that it was utilized during the production of Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness and Machina, as well as in many of his home demos.

This vintage drum machine was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This 5 piece drum set was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

A Roland MC-303 was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This vintage drum machine was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This drum machine was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This effects processor was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This vintage effects processor was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This effects unit was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This effects unit was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.

This multi-effects unit was sold on Billy Corgan’s official Reverb.com shop.