TonesMatch
Vicarious — TOOL1 / 2
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Vicarious Riff Guitar Tone Settings — TOOL

TOOL · 2000s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst (1979)
Pickups
Stock Gibson humbuckers (late 70s T-Top or Tim Shaw, covered)
Amp
Diezel VH4 (primary for riff section on 10,000 Days)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 2005-2006. Adam Jones is known to blend multiple amps (Diezel VH4, Marshall Super Bass, Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier), but Diezel VH4 is widely cited as the main amp for the heavy riff sections of 'Vicarious' on the album. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this part.

Amp Settings

Mids
6
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
6.5
Presence
6.5

Effects Chain

  • Boss DD-3 Digital Delay · delay
  • Lovetone Big Cheese · fuzz
  • Lovetone Brown Source · overdrive
  • Gig-FX Chopper · tremolo

Gibson Les Paul Custom → Lovetone Big Cheese → Lovetone Brown Source → Boss DD-3 → Diezel VH4 (with light digital reverb)

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • chunky, saturated distortion
  • clear note definition under heavy gain
  • articulate palm-muted chugs
  • massive, modern metal wall of sound
  • slightly scooped but present mids
  • controlled low end, not boomy
  • crisp, aggressive pick attack
  • minimal ambient reverb
  • focused, studio-polished heaviness

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No official amp knob settings for 'Vicarious' riff section found; settings estimated based on Diezel VH4 typical use in modern metal, Adam Jones' known preferences, and genre/era.
  • ⚠️Pedal/effects chain is based on confirmed studio use and audible effects; no explicit studio session documentation for exact pedal order/settings.
  • ⚠️Multiple amps are sometimes blended by Adam Jones, but Diezel VH4 is most consistently cited for the main riff tone on this album.
  • ⚠️No explicit pickup selector documentation for this song, but bridge pickup is standard for Adam Jones' heavy riff tone and matches the audio.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Adam Jones is known for a tight, articulate high-gain tone with moderate mids and a controlled low end, using Diezel/VHT amps and humbuckers. The 'Vicarious' riff is aggressive but not overly scooped or boomy, with clarity and punch, minimal reverb, and a slightly boosted presence for definition.

Sources