Tool sound for Mahogany LP

skinslapper

skinslapper

New member
Hey Y'all,

I've just made a booboo by putting a sh-4 into the bridge of my Epi LP studio (all mahogany/ rosewood neck) and it sounds terrible.

Way too much twang, the loose body is causing harsh reverberations through the amp, no guts, just painful twang.

I'm trying to get a sound much like Adam Jones of Tool, with of course, some wiggle room. The previous pickup was a Dimarzio 219, which sounded perfect except for a lack presence/brightness, but its bass, mids, and power were spot on.

So, got any suggestions for me?
 
Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

Could try a Custom maybe. Apparently Jones does use the JB but if you're finding it too twangy then the next step would be to try a Duncan Custom and if that's still no good go to a Custom Custom.

I don't know much about mag swaps but someone will be along very shortly to suggest one for your JB.
 
Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

You sure it's wired correctly?

Also remember... Adam Jones is using three amps simultaneously, a Marshall Super Bass, a Diezel of some sort, and I can't remember the third (i think he swaps different amps out).

What amp are you using?
 
Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

Try it with an A2. For me that was an instant Tool tone in a SG. But I wasn't trying for a Tool tone.

*edit* ooops, bad habit. this would require the interest and basic skill to start mag swaping.
 
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Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

PATB 1 with an A8 magnet in there. The clarity of the PATB series under gain is great, the A8 gives it a nice low mids push. I run mine through a marshall plexi type pedal and its a good facsimile of Tool
 
Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

i vote for the custom, i had one in an agile 3100 (very similar to epi lp) and it was a dead on tool tone
 
Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

I odnt recommend it as a magic cure for everything but I have to admit the Custom 8 had tool tone on tap when I treid it. had that mids thing. you could try an A8 mag in the JB
 
Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

His tone on Undertow was raw, organic, unpredictable, brown, subtle, powerful, grainy yet complex, extremely detailed, lean and sinewy. Back then, it was Silverburst+EQ pedal+delay pedal+Super Bass.

His tone changed to a more or less generic high gain metal sound after that album and he never regained his "magic Undertow tone"
 
Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

Yeah, turns out I'd wired it wrong. Darn thing was phasing out all over the place, all better now and sounding amazing. I'll give a more detailed analysis and hopefully some sound files soon.

I'M. More a fan of his big warm sound from lateralus than the undertow record. Each to their own I say.
 
Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

skinslapper said:
Yeah, turns out I'd wired it wrong. Darn thing was phasing out all over the place, all better now and sounding amazing. I'll give a more detailed analysis and hopefully some sound files soon.

I'M. More a fan of his big warm sound from lateralus than the undertow record. Each to their own I say.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear you got it right! I was thinking that it shouldn't sound THAT twangy in Mahogany.

Play it like you stole it!
 
Re: Tool sound for Mahogany LP

i've got a Custom Custom in an LP Studio and it roars! has all the balls you need for modern rock, but maybe not the precision needed for metal. still has a dark sound (mahogany body and neck) but chords voice/ring nicely and don't get lost in the distortion like I found with some hot pickups. the custom custom has the A2 mag mentioned above, so if the JB doesn't work for what youre looking for, I'd highly recommend the Custom Custom.
 
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