How to Set Up and Use Adam Jones Tool

Setting up a rig inspired by the Adam Jones Tool approach is a matter of building a signal chain that prioritises controlled heaviness, responsive dynamics, and clarity under high gain. This guide takes you through the process from connecting the equipment to dialling the tone — assuming you have a Les Paul-style guitar and a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (or similar high-gain amplifier) as your starting point.

Equipment You Will Need

• Gibson Les Paul or equivalent with high-output humbuckers
• Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (or high-gain alternative)
• 4×12 or 2×12 cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers
• Dunlop Cry Baby wah pedal
• Volume pedal
• Digital delay pedal
• Speaker cable (for amp to cabinet)
• Instrument cables

Step-by-Step Adam Jones Tool Setup

1. Position and connect the cabinet: place the 4×12 cabinet where it won't point directly at your body (to avoid excessive volume at close range). Connect the amplifier's speaker output to the cabinet's input with a proper speaker cable — not an instrument cable. Make sure the impedance settings on both amp and cabinet match; the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier's impedance selector (4, 8, or 16 ohms) must match the cabinet's rating.
2. Connect the signal chain in order: guitar → volume pedal → wah pedal → delay pedal → amplifier input. This order ensures the volume pedal controls your input level before distortion, and the wah and delay sit in the right relationship in the chain.
3. Set the Mesa/Boogie channel to the red channel (modern or vintage mode): the red channel is the high-gain voice associated with Jones's sound. Start in modern mode. Set gain to about 2 o'clock (high but not fully open), master volume at a usable level, and the equaliser flat.
4. Initial EQ settings: on the Dual Rectifier's 5-band EQ, set bass at 10 o'clock (lower than mid), mids at 11 o'clock (slightly scooped), treble at 1 o'clock, presence at 12 o'clock, and resonance at 12 o'clock. This gives a slightly scooped mid character. Adjust to taste after playing.
5. Set the guitar's controls: bridge pickup, both volume and tone at full. Jones runs his guitar's controls fully open and manages dynamics through playing touch and the volume pedal, not the guitar's onboard controls.
6. Test and adjust the gain: play a few power chords at moderate volume. The tone should be thick but articulate — you should hear the individual strings rather than a muddy wash. If it's too muddy, reduce the bass slightly or lower the gain a touch. If it's thin, increase the bass or raise the gain.
7. Dial the wah to a fixed position: engage the wah pedal and find a mid-position (roughly halfway through the sweep) where the tone gains a vocal, nasal quality. Use this for passages that need tonal colour without full wah movement. For full wah playing, sweep the pedal in time with the music.
8. Configure the delay for atmosphere: set delay time to about 400–600ms, one or two repeats, and mix at about 20–30%. This adds depth to slower or more atmospheric passages without cluttering fast riff playing. Engage it only for appropriate song sections.
9. Check the volume pedal position: the volume pedal should be set so that its fully open position matches the volume you want when playing loud sections. Using it to roll back slightly (to about 80%) cleans up the amp's gain and adds articulation to lighter passages.
10. Play through a full practice routine: test the setup across different playing styles — steady riffs, odd-time patterns, single notes — to check that the tone holds up at different dynamics. Adjust the gain, EQ, and amp master volume based on the room's acoustic response.

Tips for Getting the Tone Right

• The Dual Rectifier benefits from a warm-up period. Give it 10 minutes before serious playing.
• Less gain than you think is usually better. Jones's tone is not maximally saturated — it's heavy but controlled.
• Room placement matters significantly with a 4×12. Pushing the cabinet against a wall increases bass buildup; pulling it away from the wall opens up the tone.
• Pick attack controls the dynamics more than the amp's master volume. Practise playing quietly with your fretting hand relaxed and picking arm not tensed.

For a detailed explanation of the gear involved, see the Adam Jones Tool guide. For a breakdown of where to buy the components, the buyer's guide covers all options.

Frequently Asked Questions