Song Rig
New Eden
Tosin Abasi · Weightless · 2011
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
The Weightless album's most technically demanding track — Tosin's writing became more complex on the second album, with odd time signatures and polyrhythmic layers that push the 8-string extended technique further. The tone is similar to the debut but with more production refinement and clearer mix separation.
Signal Chain
- 1Ibanez RG2228 or Abasi Concepts custom 8-string
- 2Axe-Fx II (more refined presets than the Ultra)
- 3Mesa Boogie 4×12
Amp Settings
The Weightless album has cleaner production than the debut — the Axe-Fx II provides more refined high-gain simulation. The tone is cleaner at high gain than the debut album, with better note separation in complex polyrhythmic passages.
Technique
How to Play It
Polyrhythmic layering — New Eden uses multiple simultaneous rhythmic patterns that create the illusion of more instruments than a single guitarist playing. Tosin achieves this by having his thumb on the low strings follow a different rhythmic pattern than his fingers on the upper strings.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
8-string guitar → Axe-Fx or high-gain amp → study polyrhythm: practice playing quarter notes with one hand against eighth-note triplets with the other until the patterns are fully independent.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
More from Tosin Abasi
Other Song Rigs
CAFO
Animals as Leaders · 2009
The opening statement of the djent-influenced progressive metal movement — an 8-…
View rig →Physical Education
Weightless · 2011
Animals as Leaders' most melodically developed album produced a more polished ve…
View rig →Wave of Babies
Animals as Leaders · 2009
The debut album's most atmospheric track — alternating between spacious clean pa…
View rig →Tempting Time
Animals as Leaders · 2009
The debut album opener — Tosin's 8-string guitar tone through the Axe-Fx process…
View rig →On Impulse
Animals as Leaders · 2009
The debut album's most atmospheric track — Tosin uses clean and lightly effected…
View rig →