Adam Jones

Adam Jones Tone — Plugins & Amp Sims

Gibson Les Paul (various) into a Diezel VH4 or Marshall head, tuned down to Eb or D. The tone is dense and saturated with a mid-forward character — not scooped. An MXR Phase 90 runs almost constantly on slower songs. The attack is mid-tempo and deliberate; Tool riffs are never rushed.

Progressive MetalAlternative Metalcrushingdarkindustrialrhythmic

Adam Jones's signature high-gain tone — built around Mesa/Boogie voicings — can be replicated in the box using modern amp sim plugins and IR cab loaders. This page maps the full DSP signal chain: guitar sim → amp sim → FX → IR, so you can dial in that crushing, dark character without physical gear.

Full DSP Chain

Est. £3,227
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst

les-paulhigh-gaincrushing

£2,999

Analog
PluginNeural DSPDSP

Archetype: Gojira

Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier wall of Rectifiers

extreme-gaincrushingindustrialdark

£199

Digital
FXLine 6 HelixDSP

Helix: Transistor Tape Delay

delaytape-echo
Digital
IRYork AudioDSP

York Audio V30 Mix Pack (IR)

Celestion Vintage 30 4×12

v30britishmid-forward

£29

Digital

Hybrid Option

Est. £3,227

Real guitar into a DSP amp chain — best of both worlds.

Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst

les-paulhigh-gaincrushing

£2,999

Analog
PluginNeural DSPDSP

Archetype: Gojira

Mesa Dual Rectifier

extreme-gaincrushingtool-tone

£199

Digital
FXLine 6 HelixDSP

Helix: Transistor Tape Delay

delaytape-echo
Digital
IRYork AudioDSP

York Audio V30 Mix Pack (IR)

Celestion Vintage 30 4×12

v30britishmid-forward

£29

Digital

Tone DNA

Gain Structure

high-gain

Amp References

Mesa/Boogie

Key FX

Delay

Tonal Character

crushing, dark, industrial, rhythmic

Adam Jones Full Tone Profile →Physical Rig BudgetsTry Rig Builder