How to Dial In "The Grudge" by Tool - Guitar Tone Settings
What Tool Actually Used on "The Grudge"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Diezel VH4. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Drop D. Opens Lateralus in 5/8, and the metric displacement is the whole difficulty — the riff repeats at a length that never lines up with where you expect the bar to start, so it sounds like it is constantly falling forward. Set the tone for definition rather than weight: Adam Jones runs a Les Paul into a Diezel VH4 with the gain lower than the album's heaviness suggests and the low end controlled, because the riff only reads if you can hear where each repetition begins. Recorded 2000-01 at Cello and the Hook in Los Angeles with David Bottrill. Jones's sound is notably dry with very little reverb; the space in Tool records comes from the arrangement and from Justin Chancellor's bass, not from effects on the guitar.
Common Questions About the "The Grudge" Tone
What guitar did Tool use on "The Grudge"?
Tool tracked "The Grudge" on a Gibson Les Paul Custom (released 2001). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "The Grudge" need?
On Diezel VH4: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6.5, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "The Grudge" without a Diezel VH4?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Grudge" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "The Grudge" by Tool are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.