Tone library / TOOL / Parabola

Parabola amp settings — Orange Crush 20

The TOOL guitar tone for “Parabola”, dialed in for a Orange Crush 20 with a Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray4. Studio version, Lateralus (2001)

Original rig

Wal Mk II bass with humbuckers → Boss TU-2 → Digitech Bass Whammy → Tech 21 SansAmp GT-2 (distortion) → Boss BF-2 Flanger → Boss DD-3 Delay → Demeter preamp (clean DI) + Mesa Boogie 400+ head into Mesa Roadready cabs

Grinding mid-forward growl with piano-like clarity on top, aggressive pick attack, thick low-mid presence that cuts through heavy guitars
Amp settings — Orange Crush 20
CHANNELSingle channel (clean platform for pedal gain)
GAIN 3 BASS 6 MID 7 TREBLE 5 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain3
Bass6
Mid7
Treble5
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Fuzz (owned)

Justin used a SansAmp GT-2 for grindy overdrive rather than fuzz — your fuzz will be thicker and less articulate. Keep gain moderate to preserve note definition. Roll tone back slightly to avoid fizz. This is your primary dirt source; amp stays clean.

Volume/Level 7 · Tone 6 · Fuzz/Gain 5

02Boss BF-2 Flanger

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Used subtly on Parabola for swirling texture during verses. Rate slow, depth moderate.

Manual 5 · Depth 4 · Rate 3 · Res 5

03Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Short slapback delay adds space and depth to the grinding tone. Mode 8 = 800ms range, keep mix subtle.

E.Level 4 · F.Back 3 · D.Time 5 · Mode 8
Why these settings

Your StingRay Ray4 humbucker is the RIGHT pickup type — Justin's Wal has humbuckers with similar output and mid-forward voice. The Orange Crush 20 is warm and mid-present like a British amp, which suits Tool's grinding bass tone. Amp gain stays low (3) because your fuzz pedal is the dirt source — the Crush's voice adds warmth without mud. Mid pushed to 7 compensates for the Wal's piano-like upper-mid clarity your StingRay won't naturally have; treble at 5 prevents the fuzz from getting harsh through the Orange's already warm voicing.

PRO TIPJustin plays with a pick and attacks hard right over the bridge pickup — this is essential to the tone's aggressive transient snap. Dig in with downstrokes and let the pick scrape slightly for that grinding texture. The Wal's preamp adds compression; your StingRay's active preamp does similar work, so keep the onboard EQ flat or boost mids slightly at 300-500Hz if your bass has that control.

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These settings are for a Orange Crush 20. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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