BassCleanClean
Pneuma Bass Tone Settings — TOOL
TOOL · 2010s+ · prog
studio
Original Recording
A reconstruction of the bass tone. Gear attributions and estimated settings are explained in the research notes below.
Bass
Wal MkII 4-string
Pickups
Dual humbuckers (Wal proprietary, multi-coil, active electronics)
Amp
Gallien-Krueger 2001RB (clean channel, likely bi-amped with Mesa/Boogie 400+ for grit sections)
Pickup Position
Both pickups balanced (Wal blend at center detent)
Studio recording, Fear Inoculum album, released 2019. Clean section tone is isolated from the main drive channel.
Amp Settings
Suggested starting points on a 0–10 scale, not documented studio knob positions. Match to your gear for controls specific to your setup.
Mids6
Bass5.5
Gain0
Treble6
Presence5
compression5
Effects Chain
Wal MkII Bass (active) → GK 2001RB (clean channel, moderate compression) → DI and/or amp-mic blend
Tone Matcher
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Tone Character
- clear, piano-like attack
- deep but articulate lows
- slightly scooped mids
- glassy, hi-fi top end
- fast transient response
- studio-polished clarity
- wide dynamic range
- distinct note separation
- no audible drive or grit
Playing Technique
- fingerstyle
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
studio