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The recording
Adam Jones recorded the Lateralus guitar parts at The Hook and Cello Studios in Los Angeles, with engineer Vince DeFranco and producer David Bottrill. He used a 2001 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst tuned to Drop D, routed through a Diezel VH4 and a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier blended into a 4x12 Celestion V30 cabinet. The guitars were captured with a Shure SM57 and a condenser microphone, yielding a tight, aggressive tone that cuts through the mix.
Tuning Drop D (D A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
2001 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst
Guitar
Adam Jones recorded the Lateralus guitar parts with his 2001 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst, tuned to Drop D, delivering the thick, sustaining lead tone heard on the track.
2001 Diezel VH4
Amplifier
2001 Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amplifier
For added low‑end heft, Jones blended the Diezel with a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, giving the rhythm sections a massive, saturated wall of sound.
2001 4x12 Celestion V30 Cabinet
Cabinet
The amps were miked through a 4‑x‑12 Celestion V30 cabinet, delivering tight mids and articulate low‑end that sits prominently in the mix; this configuration aligns with Jones' known rig of the era.
Alternatives
Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Modern equivalent · for the 2001 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Still made · for the 2001 Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Diezel VH4 (current production)
Modern equivalent · for the 2001 Diezel VH4
Celestion V30 4x12 Cabinet
Modern equivalent · for the 2001 4x12 Celestion V30 Cabinet
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Tune your guitar to Drop D (D A D G B E) before playing.
- 2.Select the bridge pickup and roll the tone knob fully open for maximum brightness.
- 3.Drive a high‑gain amp such as a Diezel VH4 into a 4×12 Celestion V30 cabinet, and blend in a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier for extra low‑end heft.
- 4.Add a short digital delay (≈300 ms) to thicken the leads without washing out articulation.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Lateralus guitar tone?
The available research points to 2001 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst into 2001 Diezel VH4. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Lateralus amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Lateralus in?
The current research record lists Drop D (D A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Lateralus tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
