Song Rig
Wave of Babies
Tosin Abasi · Animals as Leaders · 2009
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
The debut album's most atmospheric track — alternating between spacious clean passages and crushing djent riffs within the same song. The clean sections showcase the 8-string's upper register, producing a piano-like tone with chorus and reverb that contrasts dramatically with the low-tuned riff sections.
Signal Chain
- 1Ibanez RG2228 8-String
- 2Mesa Boogie Mark V (clean and lead channels)
- 3TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb
- 4Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble (clean sections)
Amp Settings
Clean sections: gain at 2, reverb and chorus at 50% mix. Heavy sections: gain at 8–9, no chorus or reverb, NS-2 active. The contrast between the two tonal characters is the primary compositional technique of the song.
Technique
How to Play It
Finger independence for the two-hand tapping passages — the intro features independent melodic lines in each hand, requiring the left hand to act as a second lead voice rather than just fretting conventional chord shapes.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
8-string guitar → Fractal Axe-Fx III or Neural DSP Archetype Abasi → two preset patches (clean and heavy, instant switch) → TC Electronic reverb and chorus on the clean patch.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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