Riff Tone

Pneuma

TOOL

Guitarmetal2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst (1979)

AmpDiezel VH4 (studio recording, channel 3 high-gain), likely blended with Marshall Super Bass 100 (1976, for added body)

PickupsStock Gibson humbuckers (T-Top, passive, likely bridge position for riff)

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6

mid6

treble6.5

reverb1.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

delayBoss Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

boostMXR MXR Micro Amp

otherErnie Ball Ernie Ball Volume Pedal

Notes

Studio recording for 'Pneuma' (2018-2019, Fear Inoculum). Adam Jones is confirmed to use the Les Paul Custom Silverburst and Diezel VH4 for main riff tones on the album. Marshall Super Bass 100 is often blended for body, but Diezel VH4 is primary for modern Tool riff tones. No evidence of live-specific settings or alternate guitars for this section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and articulatepercussive palm-muted chugsharmonically richclear note separation under gainmodern metal clarityslightly scooped but present midsmassive, three-dimensional soundcontrolled feedback and sustaincrushing, yet defined low endno excessive fizz or harshness

Difficulty

The riff requires tight palm muting, precise timing (especially with delay), and dynamic control under high gain, making it challenging for most players.

Sources

Tool – Fear Inoculum - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard Tool Pneuma dirt tones - The Gear Page How to achieve Adam Jones's(tool) tone ? | The Gear Page

This tone has been researched 19 times by the community

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