Schism

The recording

On "Schism" Adam Jones plays in Drop D using the bridge humbucker of a Silverburst Gibson Les Paul Custom, delivering a thick, sustain‑rich tone. He splits the signal, sending one path to a Diezel VH4 head for warm high‑gain saturation and the other to a vintage Marshall JCM800 for mid‑range bite. The two amp signals are blended in the studio to create a massive, orchestral heaviness, while he employs virtually no effects pedals, letting the amps' natural overdrive shape the tone. The parts are double‑tracked with precise palm‑muted chugs and articulate picking to lock into the song’s shifting meters.

Tuning Drop D·Strings 0.011-0.052

Reported gear

1990s Gibson Les Paul Custom (Silverburst)

Guitar

Jones used a Silverburst Gibson Les Paul Custom, equipped with a 490R neck humbucker and a 498T bridge humbucker, to deliver thick sustain and rich harmonic content on "Schism".

Diezel VH4 (2000s)

Amplifier

The German‑made Diezel VH4 provides the warm, thick high‑gain saturation that forms the core of Jones’ heavy tone on "Schism".

Marshall JCM800 (1970s)

Amplifier

Jones blends a vintage Marshall JCM800 head to add midrange bite and classic British crunch to the tone.

Alternatives

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Modern equivalent · for the 1990s Gibson Les Paul Custom (Silverburst)

$2,500 to $3,500

Marshall JCM900

Modern equivalent · for the Marshall JCM800 (1970s)

$1,000 to $1,500

Peavey 6505

Modern equivalent · for the Diezel VH4 (2000s)

$1,200 to $1,800

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Tune your guitar to Drop D (D A D G B E).
2. 2.Select the bridge humbucker for maximum output and sustain.
3. 3.Use heavy palm‑muting on the low strings to accentuate the chug.
4. 4.Attack the strings with a tight pick and alternate‑pick to lock into the complex rhythms.
5. 5.Keep the signal chain minimal – let the amp’s natural overdrive shape the tone.