Tosin Abasi Gear Guide
Tosin Abasi’s Animals as Leaders guitars, multi-scale eight-strings, Axe-Fx systems, amplifiers and modern effects.
A period-by-period quick reference to guitars, amplification, effects and songs. Specific equipment can vary by recording, tour and year.
Guitars
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Ibanez TAM100 signature 8-string | Early signature model with DiMarzio Ionizer pickups and extended-range layout. | 2013 onward |
| Ibanez RG2228 | Eight-string platform used before and alongside signature instruments. | Early Animals as Leaders |
| Ibanez TAM10 | More affordable signature-family model based on the extended-range design. | Mid-2010s |
| Abasi Concepts Larada | Ergonomic multi-scale eight-string design developed around Abasi’s playing approach. | Later career |
| Abasi Concepts Emi | Seven-string model for passages that do not require the lowest range. | Later career |
| Low E tuning | In some arrangements the lowest string is tuned down to E for additional range. | Selected songs |
Amplifiers
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Fractal Axe-Fx II | Central preamp/effects platform in the earlier compact digital rig. | 2010s |
| Port City Pearl head | Used as a power-amp platform with the Axe-Fx in a hybrid setup. | 2013 touring |
| Port City 2x12 cabinet | Traditional speaker cabinet retained for stage feel alongside modeling. | 2013 touring |
| Friedman tube heads | Later rigs brought conventional high-gain amplifier heads back into the setup. | Later touring |
Effects
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Axe-Fx amp and cabinet models | Patches included modern high-gain and classic-amp-style models, selected per song. | 2010s |
| MFC-101 MIDI foot controller | Controls Axe-Fx presets and scene changes from the stage. | 2010s |
| Stereo delay and reverb | Time-based effects create width around tightly edited rhythmic parts. | Studio/live |
| Compression and filtering | Used selectively to control dynamics and shape clean or percussive tones. | Song dependent |
| Expression control | Pedal assignments allow real-time parameter changes within modeled presets. | Live |
Song and era references
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| CAFO | Eight-string low-register riffs with precise, percussive articulation. | Self-titled era |
| The Woven Web | Extended-range guitar and tightly gated modern metal tones. | The Joy of Motion |
| Physical Education | Clean rhythmic parts contrast with heavy extended-range sections. | The Joy of Motion |
| Tempting Time | Early eight-string approach and digital amp/effects rig. | Self-titled era |
| The Brain Dance | Clean, compressed textures and layered production show the rig’s range. | The Madness of Many |