Looks like Adam Jones is using a new amp and cab...

[FourT6and2]

Does it really even matter?
It's not like he has a mind blowing tone.
Sounds like a high gain amp being played like a high gain amp should be.
Who really cares what the hell he uses.
I'm sure if he recorded the CD's with a POD, it would still sound like Tool.
Tool to me is about the attitude and space they use.
Either way, Adam sounds like Adam.

10,000 Days tone is magnific
the others are meh

Lateralus blows away 10,000 days IMO

Fuck yeah it does

Hell Yes! And AENIMA is unreal as well... Lateralus is a masterpiece.

Thank fucking god I've had to argue that point so many times it's unreal, mind boggling really. I didn't have the energy to do it tonight. Lateralus is a masterpiece and IMO their best album. It rules

I agree 10,000 days a was not that good. I'd bet their next one will be not that great as well. IMHO I think they've blown their creative wad as a band.

I will admit that 10,000 Days is not my favorite album. But Jambi, Right in Two, Rosetta Stoned, The Pot, and yes... even Intension are awesome tracks. Just because there are a couple filler tracks doesn't degrade the album (as a whole) for me. I don't view their releases as musical albums where you listen to one track here, one track there. You wouldn't go see a movie and only watch the 4th scene and the 33rd scene, would you? It's meant to be taken in context with itself. As a whole. Those filler tracks aren't "fillers." They compliment the entire work. That's the exact reason why Tool hasn't released any of their albums on iTunes. They don't want people only listening to their singles or just one song here and there. PLUS the album art plays a fundamental role in the experience.

Nothing exists in a bubble or vacuum. Right in Two isn't the same if you don't listen to Intension first. It sets a mood. It illuminates a focal point. Try it.

Put Intension and Right in Two on and actually LISTEN to what's happening. I think it's great. You might not. But give it a try.

 

[Valtiel]

Does it really even matter?
It's not like he has a mind blowing tone.
Sounds like a high gain amp being played like a high gain amp should be.
Who really cares what the hell he uses.
I'm sure if he recorded the CD's with a POD, it would still sound like Tool.
Tool to me is about the attitude and space they use.
Either way, Adam sounds like Adam.

10,000 Days tone is magnific
the others are meh

Lateralus blows away 10,000 days IMO

Fuck yeah it does

Hell Yes! And AENIMA is unreal as well... Lateralus is a masterpiece.

Thank fucking god I've had to argue that point so many times it's unreal, mind boggling really. I didn't have the energy to do it tonight. Lateralus is a masterpiece and IMO their best album. It rules

I agree 10,000 days a was not that good. I'd bet their next one will be not that great as well. IMHO I think they've blown their creative wad as a band.

I will admit that 10,000 Days is not my favorite album. But Jambi, Right in Two, Rosetta Stoned, The Pot, and yes... even Intension are awesome tracks. Just because there are a couple filler tracks doesn't degrade the album (as a whole) for me. I don't view their releases as musical albums where you listen to one track here, one track there. You wouldn't go see a movie and only watch the 4th scene and the 33rd scene, would you? It's meant to be taken in context with itself. As a whole. Those filler tracks aren't "fillers." They compliment the entire work. That's the exact reason why Tool hasn't released any of their albums on iTunes. They don't want people only listening to their singles or just one song here and there. PLUS the album art plays a fundamental role in the experience.

Nothing exists in a bubble or vacuum. Right in Two isn't the same if you don't listen to Intension first. It sets a mood. It illuminates a focal point. Try it.

Put Intension and Right in Two on and actually LISTEN to what's happening. I think it's great. You might not. But give it a try.

Necro bump to agree with this post! Lateralus is still my favorite record and i'll always have a soft spot for their old stuff, but 10,000 Days is also an amazing record. I'm not a Tool fanboy by any means, I just don't get the hate for 10,000 Days I guess.

 

[base341]

Does it really even matter?
It's not like he has a mind blowing tone.
Sounds like a high gain amp being played like a high gain amp should be.
Who really cares what the hell he uses.
I'm sure if he recorded the CD's with a POD, it would still sound like Tool.
Tool to me is about the attitude and space they use.
Either way, Adam sounds like Adam.

10,000 Days tone is magnific
the others are meh

Lateralus blows away 10,000 days IMO

Fuck yeah it does

Hell Yes! And AENIMA is unreal as well... Lateralus is a masterpiece.

Thank fucking god I've had to argue that point so many times it's unreal, mind boggling really. I didn't have the energy to do it tonight. Lateralus is a masterpiece and IMO their best album. It rules

I agree 10,000 days a was not that good. I'd bet their next one will be not that great as well. IMHO I think they've blown their creative wad as a band.

I will admit that 10,000 Days is not my favorite album. But Jambi, Right in Two, Rosetta Stoned, The Pot, and yes... even Intension are awesome tracks. Just because there are a couple filler tracks doesn't degrade the album (as a whole) for me. I don't view their releases as musical albums where you listen to one track here, one track there. You wouldn't go see a movie and only watch the 4th scene and the 33rd scene, would you? It's meant to be taken in context with itself. As a whole. Those filler tracks aren't "fillers." They compliment the entire work. That's the exact reason why Tool hasn't released any of their albums on iTunes. They don't want people only listening to their singles or just one song here and there. PLUS the album art plays a fundamental role in the experience.

Nothing exists in a bubble or vacuum. Right in Two isn't the same if you don't listen to Intension first. It sets a mood. It illuminates a focal point. Try it.

Put Intension and Right in Two on and actually LISTEN to what's happening. I think it's great. You might not. But give it a try.

Necro bump to agree with this post! Lateralus is still my favorite record and i'll always have a soft spot for their old stuff, but 10,000 Days is also an amazing record. I'm not a Tool fanboy by any means, I just don't get the hate for 10,000 Days I guess.

Seems like a lot of bands that have a loyal following have fans that say the new stuff always sucks and will never be as good as the old stuff.
I like all of their records, Tools music has changed over the years but it's always heavy and the lyrics meaningful.
I sounds like they are recording again, I can't wait to hear new music from them.

 

[Atropos_Project]

I think 10k Days is a less focused effort than Lateralus was. But on that same note, Aenima (despite how much folks love it) also was a bit scattered and had its share of filler.

One thing is certain... Jones live sound, absolutely blows me away. Best I've ever witnessed in a large venue setting.

 

[petejt]

One thing is certain... Jones live sound, absolutely blows me away. Best I've ever witnessed in a large venue setting.

That is definitely certain. Personally I think that Adam's guitar tone was much better live than how it has sounded on record. The guitar tones on the studio albums (particularly Ænima) occasionally have a quite fizzy sound to them, which I don't like. But live- it doesn't fizz, it SCORCHES! It's strong and full, has that awesome crunch but also the warmth!


I saw Tool perform live last month, and he had that bass cab with the silver face VH4 sitting on top. It was switched off. The Marshall Super Bass & blueface VH4 were on each side, and both were switched on. I think the silverface VH4 & bass cab are not just for a backup, but also decoration.
I think in the older days, the Recto was used to complement the Marshall, just as now how the blueface VH4 complements it. Adam would keep the Recto as the backup, and then got the silverface VH4 instead as the backup. I guess they all get used in the studio though for slightly different flavours.


From owning an old Marshall myself, in this (crappy audio) clip I can clearly hear how dominant the Marshall is in the overall guitar tone, when the band plays the song Intolerance. On record it sounds a little different- which I think is just due to microphone placement and recording techniques.

 

[FourT6and2]

One thing is certain... Jones live sound, absolutely blows me away. Best I've ever witnessed in a large venue setting.

That is definitely certain. Personally I think that Adam's guitar tone was much better live than how it has sounded on record. The guitar tones on the studio albums (particularly Ænima) occasionally have a quite fizzy sound to them, which I don't like. But live- it doesn't fizz, it SCORCHES! It's strong and full, has that awesome crunch but also the warmth!


I saw Tool perform live last month, and he had that bass cab with the silver face VH4 sitting on top. It was switched off. The Marshall Super Bass & blueface VH4 were on each side, and both were switched on. I think the silverface VH4 & bass cab are not just for a backup, but also decoration.
I think in the older days, the Recto was used to complement the Marshall, just as now how the blueface VH4 complements it. Adam would keep the Recto as the backup, and then got the silverface VH4 instead as the backup. I guess they all get used in the studio though for slightly different flavours.


From owning an old Marshall myself, in this (crappy audio) clip I can clearly hear how dominant the Marshall is in the overall guitar tone, when the band plays the song Intolerance. On record it sounds a little different- which I think is just due to microphone placement and recording techniques.

Remember, Undertow is 100% Marshall. So it's no surprise that Intolerance sounds like it's dominantly Super Lead. Because it's ALL Super Lead.

 

[stephen sawall]

According to one of Adams friends everything thru Ænima is nothing but Marshall.

 

[MississippiMetal]

The middle amp is still the Silverface VH4 (it is off, used as backup only). The cab is a 2x15 Mesa bass cabinet. He doesn't use it. I have no clue why it's even on stage he previously just had another Mesa 4x12 there. He's just fucking with people or something might have happened to his other Mesa cab. The only amps running are the Blueface VH4 and Marshall.

In any case you have some saving to do. Your AJ rig won't be complete without the blueface VH4 and that cab, and you should take a shower and wash off the shame in the meantime.

 

[FourT6and2]

The middle amp is still the Silverface VH4 (it is off, used as backup only). The cab is a 2x15 Mesa bass cabinet. He doesn't use it. I have no clue why it's even on stage he previously just had another Mesa 4x12 there. He's just fucking with people or something might have happened to his other Mesa cab. The only amps running are the Blueface VH4 and Marshall.

In any case you have some saving to do. Your AJ rig won't be complete without the blueface VH4 and that cab, and you should take a shower and wash off the shame in the meantime.

lol, my jones tones is complete. VH4, Super Lead and Chupacabra have me covered no problem. Some people are all up on EVH's balls and it's omg marshall this and wtfomghellyes! VH-I, II tonez!!!!! But I like Adam's sound. So sue me.

 

[MississippiMetal]

The middle amp is still the Silverface VH4 (it is off, used as backup only). The cab is a 2x15 Mesa bass cabinet. He doesn't use it. I have no clue why it's even on stage he previously just had another Mesa 4x12 there. He's just fucking with people or something might have happened to his other Mesa cab. The only amps running are the Blueface VH4 and Marshall.

In any case you have some saving to do. Your AJ rig won't be complete without the blueface VH4 and that cab, and you should take a shower and wash off the shame in the meantime.

lol, my jones tones is complete. VH4, Super Lead and Chupacabra have me covered no problem. Some people are all up on EVH's balls and it's omg marshall this and wtfomghellyes! VH-I, II tonez!!!!! But I like Adam's sound. So sue me.

J0anz T0anz! Epic.

 

[guitarslayer]

 

[RG955TT]

The Mikes play a part in the tone too. I notice in the video sm57 on the marshall, look like Heil PR30 on both the bass cab and the Mesa 4x12? BTW if he doesnt use the bass cab then why is it mike'd? Cause its used in his mix of tones.

 

[locoed]

Wasn't he using an old Sunn?
And he used a Bogner last record for blending.

 

[Ventura]

Word has it that there's an intergalactic spaceship that's been orbiting our planet. Just so HAPPENS that the "beings" on this "craft" happen to design "sonic delivery systems", what could be considered "amps".

Adam's been secretly hooked up with one of these "sonic delivery systems". At this time, everything is extremely hush-hush about it all.

 

[TIBrent]

That live third eye tone was one of the worst live Tool sounds I have heard in years. Maynard not even trying anymore, he used to belt out those screams, now he uses some cheap distorted/octaved/fuzz effect & Jone's tone, well left something to be desired there. When I saw them in 96, that was THE TONE. It was so in your face & full, this just sounds...typical.
-Brent

 

[Atropos_Project]

I think 10k Days is a less focused effort than Lateralus was. But on that same note, Aenima (despite how much folks love it) also was a bit scattered and had its share of filler.

One thing is certain... Jones live sound, absolutely blows me away. Best I've ever witnessed in a large venue setting.

IMO, production-wise, 10k days is a little better than Lateralus. But Lateralus has better songs, and is musically a much better effort from start to finish.

And I'll agree completely on his live sound, absolutely monstrous.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I saw Tool live in 2001 and apart from a few songs, I was bored out of my freaking mind. He played what I guess was a solo which consisted of 1 riff played slow and repeated it for what seemed like 10 minutes. And Maynard had his back to the crowd for most of the show. Just thought I'd air that out.

 

[jsp]

I was completely obsessed with the 10,000 Days tone for the longest time. Still kinda am...

And his live tone... holy shit...

 

[steve_k]

AJ's tone is fairly easy to cover with a variety of amps. One thing to note on his live tone is the lack of bass and the abundance of mids. With Justin being all over the sonic space with his bass, and covering so much territory, Adam would easily be stepped on, in terms of cutting through. It works well as a band though and its something they haven't messed with.

 

[cardinal]

Don't have anything to add, but feel compelled to post in threads about teh Joanz Toanz. AJ sounds awesome live.