GuitarCleanRiff80% confidence
Pneuma Riff Guitar Tone Settings — TOOL
TOOL · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst (Adam Jones' main studio guitar)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB (bridge), Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro (neck)
Amp
Diezel VH4 (Channel 1 or 2 for clean), Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (not used for clean sections, but present in rig)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 2018-2019 (Fear Inoculum sessions). Adam Jones is confirmed to use his Les Paul Custom Silverburst and Diezel VH4 for clean tones in the studio. Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier is also part of his rig but typically used for heavier sections. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the clean riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb1
Treble6.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Chorus pedal (model unknown) · chorus
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Guitar → Chorus pedal → Delay pedal → Diezel VH4 (clean channel, plate reverb)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- crystal-clear clean
- lush and three-dimensional
- slightly compressed attack
- chimey high end
- full-bodied lows
- articulate note separation
- ambient spaciousness
- dynamic response
- subtle modulation shimmer
- studio-polished clarity
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No official amp knob settings for the clean section of 'Pneuma' are published; settings are estimated based on Adam Jones' typical Diezel VH4 clean channel usage and genre/era conventions.
- No explicit mention of pedal models for clean section; effects inferred from audio and typical Adam Jones rig.
- Pickup choice inferred from tone and Adam Jones' known usage for clean passages.
- Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier is part of Adam Jones' rig but not typically used for clean tones; Diezel VH4 is primary for cleans.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Adam Jones typically uses a moderately high gain for TOOL's heavy, articulate riffs, with tight, controlled bass, balanced mids, and slightly boosted treble/presence for clarity. The tone on 'Pneuma' is dry and direct, with little to no reverb, matching his usual amp settings and the song's modern progressive metal production.