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Pneuma (Tool) bass tone and bass amp settings

Pneuma bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 4), forward high-mids (High Mid 2), balanced lows (Bass 1), neck P pickup.

Settings for your amp

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Pneuma settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3

Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every song

AmpFender Rumble 40 V3

Gain4
BrightOff
ContourOff
VintageOff
OverdriveOff
Bass+1
Low Mid+1
High Mid+2
Treble+1
Set to your roomMaster

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Keep the fundamental full and punchy.
Bridge Volume (J)5Blend in growl and definition.
Tone8
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
4
Bright
Off
Contour
Off
Vintage
Off
Overdrive
Off
Bass
+1
Low Mid
+1
High Mid
+2
Treble
+1
Master
Set to your room

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
10
Bridge Volume (J)
5
Tone
8

A Boss BF-2 flanger and DD-3 delay would better match the documented effects.

Pneuma settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108

Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108 settings for every song

AmpAmpeg Rocket Bass RB-108

SGTOff
Set to your roomVolume
Bass+1
Midrange+2
Treble+1

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)8Keeps the fundamental full while blending in bridge growl.
Bridge Volume (J)7Adds articulation and bite without making the sound too thin.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

SGT
Off
Volume
Set to your room
Bass
+1
Midrange
+2
Treble
+1

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
8
Bridge Volume (J)
7
Tone
7

A subtle delay and flanger can add the documented Chancellor textures.

Pneuma settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive

Amp

Bass5
Mid6.5
Treble5.5
Drive2

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)8Keep the P pickup prominent for weight and punch.
Bridge Volume (J)7Blend in bridge growl for definition and articulation.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Bass
5
Mid
6.5
Treble
5.5
Drive
2

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
8
Bridge Volume (J)
7
Tone
7

Add a flanger and digital delay for the documented album-era effects.

The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

Justin Chancellor's bass on Fear Inoculum rests on his Wal 4-string bass as the fundamental tone, with other basses adding sparkle in a few places. He kept returning to his Demeter after the band tested a run of new DIs. The album rig is built on Gallien-Krueger 2001RB heads, Mesa Boogie cabinets and a pedalboard that includes Boss DD-3 Digital Delay and Boss BF-2 Flanger pedals. On Pneuma, Adam Jones brought in the main riff. In the last verse Chancellor stays on the original riff, which sets up a few small conflicting moments between the bass and guitar parts.

  • Stay on the original riff in the last verse, so the bass and guitar lines pull against each other for a few moments.
  • Play the chordal part around a repetitive figure of seven, which recurs as a theme in the song's time signatures.

What amp did Justin Chancellor use on Pneuma?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

Justin Chancellor

Bass
Wal 4-string bass[1]
Amp
Gallien-Krueger 2001RB[1]
Effects
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay[1], Boss BF-2 Flanger[1]
  • Chancellor said Adam Jones came in with the main riff of Pneuma. (on this song)[1]
  • Bass Magazine reports Chancellor's chordal work on Pneuma dances around a repetitive figure of seven. (on this song)[1]
  • Verse: Adam Jones says Chancellor stays on the original riff in the last verse, which sets up conflicting moments between the two parts. (on this song)[2]
  • Bass Magazine's gear box lists Wal 4-string basses among Chancellor's instruments for the album. (on the album Fear Inoculum)[1]
  • Chancellor said his fundamental bass tone comes from his Wal bass, with the other basses adding sparkle in a few places. (on the album Fear Inoculum)[1]
  • Chancellor said the band tested about ten new DIs and kept returning to his Demeter. (on the album Fear Inoculum)[1]
  • Bass Magazine's gear box lists Gallien-Krueger 2001RB heads, a Demeter VTBP-201S preamp and Mesa Boogie cabinets. (on the album Fear Inoculum)[1]
  • Bass Magazine's gear box lists Boss DD-3 Digital Delay and Boss BF-2 Flanger pedals. (on the album Fear Inoculum)[1]
  • Chancellor said he needs a separate string for drop-D tuning. (on the album Fear Inoculum)[3]

Questions

What amp did Justin Chancellor use on Pneuma?

The sources on this page document Justin Chancellor's gear on Pneuma by Tool: bass, Wal 4-string bass [1]; amp, Gallien-Krueger 2001RB [1]; effects, Boss DD-3 Digital Delay [1], Boss BF-2 Flanger [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the Pneuma settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?

For the Pneuma bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 4, Bass +1, Low Mid +1, High Mid +2, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 5, Tone 8. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Pneuma settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?

For the Pneuma bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set Bass +1, Midrange +2, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 8, Bridge Volume (J) 7, Tone 7. Set Volume to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

Can I get the Pneuma tone on my own amp?

Yes. The settings above cover 2 reference amps and any amp with the basic controls. For your exact rig, KnobMaster, an iPhone app, sets every knob of your own amp, bass and pedals for Pneuma, using only the controls your gear has.

Get it for your exact rig

KnobMaster sets every knob of your own amp, bass and pedals for this song.

Download KnobMaster on the App Store