Tosin Abasi
Tosin Abasi is the primary guitarist and co-founder of Animals as Leaders, one of the defining bands of the djent and progressive metal movement. His 8-string guitar playing brought polyrhythmic complexity, extended range technique, and jazz-influenced harmonic language to metal audiences. Abasi's two-handed tapping technique — using thumb and fingers simultaneously in ways borrowed from classical guitar and bass — created an entirely new vocabulary for extended-range electric guitar. He co-founded Abasi Concepts, producing instruments designed specifically for the extended-range playing approach he pioneered.
Diezel Herbert or Fractal Axe-Fx III producing articulate, high-definition high-gain tones with exceptional note separation at speed — the 8-string requirement means Abasi's amp choices prioritise low-end tightness above all else. His clean tones are crystal-clear and touch-responsive; his high-gain tones are compressed and precise without flubbing the low-B and low-F# strings. Abasi Concepts 8-string guitars with Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups.
Signal Chain Order
Why Tosin Abasi's Rig Works
The extended low range of an 8-string guitar (down to a low F# well below a standard guitar's range) creates a genuine engineering problem most 6-string-voiced amps aren't built to solve: low frequencies that far down tend to produce an undefined, boomy blur under distortion rather than a tight, articulate note. The Diezel Herbert's specific tight-low-end EL34 response is chosen precisely because it can keep that extreme low register defined and punchy rather than collapsing into mush, which is a prerequisite for Abasi's polyrhythmic parts to actually be followable.
The Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups' ceramic magnet design addresses the same low-end-definition problem from the pickup side rather than the amp side — many humbuckers, designed with 6-string frequency ranges in mind, produce a loose, undefined output on very low, thick strings; a pickup specifically engineered for extended-range clarity is necessary groundwork before the amp even enters the equation, not an optional upgrade.
The Larada 8's multiscale (fanned-fret) construction solves a related but distinct physical problem: a single fixed scale length across all eight strings creates uneven string tension, with the lowest strings feeling too loose and the highest feeling too tight relative to each other. Fanning the frets so each string effectively has its own appropriate scale length keeps tension — and therefore playability and intonation accuracy — consistent across the full extended range, which matters enormously for the precise two-handed tapping technique Abasi is known for.
Guitars
Abasi Concepts Larada 8
2018–presentTosin's own signature instrument from the company he co-founded — through-neck construction, multiscale (fanned fret) design for improved intonation and tension consistency across 8 strings, and Bare Knuckle Aftermath humbuckers in both positions. The Larada is engineered specifically for the extended-range playing Abasi pioneered.
Ibanez RGA8 (TAM100 signature)
2011–2018Abasi's original signature Ibanez — an 8-string fixed-bridge superstrat with Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups installed after factory delivery. The TAM100 was the first widely available Tosin Abasi signature instrument and made his playing approach accessible to a mass market.
Ibanez K8 Kiesel
2013–2016Custom Kiesel 8-string used during specific Animals as Leaders touring cycles — Kiesel's through-neck construction and Lithium active pickups provided an alternative to the Ibanez setup for certain tone contexts.
Amplifiers
Diezel Herbert
2015–presentAbasi's primary live amp — the Herbert's three channels provide clean, crunch, and high-gain options, with the Lead channel's tight, precise EL34 response matching the low-end control requirements of 8-string playing. The Herbert's low-end tightness is fundamental to Abasi's low-register clarity.
Amp guide →Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III
2018–presentUsed in parallel with or instead of the Herbert for stereo effects processing and studio recording — the Axe-Fx III handles chorus, stereo delay, and reverb. In some live configurations the Axe-Fx III replaces the Herbert entirely as both amp modeler and effects processor.
Effects Pedals
Bare Knuckle Aftermath Humbuckers
2011–presentNot a pedal but a fundamental component — the Aftermath pickups are high-output passive humbuckers designed specifically for extended-range clarity on low-tuned strings. The ceramic magnet design maintains definition on the lowest strings where most humbuckers produce undefined low-end bloom.
Boss TU-3 Tuner
2010–presentStandard chromatic tuner for 8-string — the extended low range (F# at 23.1 Hz) requires a tuner capable of tracking below standard guitar range. The TU-3 handles the lowest 8-string string accurately.
Key Albums & Tone
"CAFO" — the definitive Animals as Leaders track, demonstrating Abasi's polyrhythmic two-handed tapping technique over djent rhythm guitars. The debut album's production uses the Axe-Fx II for the entire guitar tone.
"Earth Shaker" and "Isolated Incidents" — the second Animals as Leaders album demonstrating the development of the two-person instrumental djent vocabulary. Heavier djent riffs paired with jazz-influenced clean sections.
"Physical Education" and "Lippincott" — more rhythmically diverse than earlier albums, incorporating funk and R&B elements into the Animals as Leaders framework. Abasi's clean tone on this album is particularly impressive.
"Gestaltzerfall" — the most recent Animals as Leaders album, with Abasi using the Diezel Herbert in the live configuration. More variety in amp character than earlier recordings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What guitar does Tosin Abasi use?
Abasi Concepts Larada 8 and Ibanez RGA8 (TAM100 signature). Tosin's own signature instrument from the company he co-founded — through-neck construction, multiscale (fanned fret) design for improved intonation and tension consistency across 8 strings, and Bare Knuckle Aftermath humbuckers in both positions. The Larada is engineered specifically for the extended-range playing Abasi pioneered.
What amp does Tosin Abasi use?
Diezel Herbert and Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III. Abasi's primary live amp — the Herbert's three channels provide clean, crunch, and high-gain options, with the Lead channel's tight, precise EL34 response matching the low-end control requirements of 8-string playing. The Herbert's low-end tightness is fundamental to Abasi's low-register clarity.
What pedals does Tosin Abasi use?
Tosin Abasi uses Bare Knuckle Aftermath Humbuckers, Boss TU-3 Tuner.
What is Tosin Abasi's signature sound?
Diezel Herbert or Fractal Axe-Fx III producing articulate, high-definition high-gain tones with exceptional note separation at speed — the 8-string requirement means Abasi's amp choices prioritise low-end tightness above all else. His clean tones are crystal-clear and touch-responsive; his high-gain tones are compressed and precise without flubbing the low-B and low-F# strings. Abasi Concepts 8-string guitars with Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups.
About This Data
Gear information for Tosin Abasi is compiled from live performance footage, rig-rundown interviews, manufacturer and signature-model documentation, and cross-referenced guitar press coverage — not a single source. Where accounts conflict (a common issue with decades-old gear history), we favour the version corroborated by the most independent sources and note genuine ambiguity in the text rather than presenting a guess as settled fact.
This page is maintained by Alex Hall, last reviewed July 2026. Spotted something out of date or inaccurate? Let us know — corrections are usually made within a few days.