How Toneforge Jason Richardson Nails Modern Metal Guitar Tone

Jason Richardson’s guitar playing is on another level. It’s not just the blinding speed or the technical precision; it’s the insane harmonic complexity and the crystal-clear articulation that makes every note count. Getting a guitar tone that can keep up with that kind of playing is a challenge—it needs to be saturated but not mushy, aggressive but not harsh, and tight enough to handle rhythms that sound like a drum machine on fire.

Enter Toneforge Jason Richardson.

Created by Joey Sturgis Tones, this plugin isn't just another amp sim in a crowded market. It’s a complete, self-contained suite—much like its sibling Toneforge Misha Mansoor—designed to deliver that hyper-modern, articulate, and surgically precise metal tone that defines players like Richardson.

But it’s also more than that. It embodies a philosophy about what modern metal guitar is really about. It’s not about slathering on gain and tuning as low as you can. It’s about leveraging technology to achieve unparalleled clarity, rhythmic accuracy, and total control over your sound. Let's break down how this plugin works and how you can use it to get killer modern metal tones.

What is Toneforge Jason Richardson? A Quick Overview

At its core, Toneforge Jason Richardson is an all-in-one guitar processing suite. When you load it up, you’re not just getting a single amp head. You get a full signal chain designed for versatility and precision:

• Three Amp Models: A crystal clear Clean channel, a tight and aggressive Rhythm channel, and a saturated, singing Lead channel.
• Built-in Effects: It includes a versatile wah, a lush delay with tap tempo, and a spacious reverb.
• Cab Room & IR Loader: A detailed cabinet simulator with multiple mics and positions, plus the ability to load your own third-party Impulse Responses (IRs).
• Post-Processing Tools: A dedicated 5-band parametric EQ and a limiter give you final shaping control right within the plugin.
• Practice Tools: A built-in chromatic tuner and the unique "Tracer" tool, which provides visual feedback on your picking accuracy against a MIDI file.

Beyond the Presets: Why This Plugin Is a Modern Metal Powerhouse

A superficial take on modern metal is that it’s all about extended-range guitars, super-low tunings, and digital sterility. But that’s missing the point entirely. The best modern players and producers are defined by their incredible precision, rhythmic sophistication, and their smart use of technology. Toneforge Jason Richardson is built from the ground up to support that mindset.

It’s Not Just About Low Tunings, It’s About Clarity

Playing an 8-string guitar in Drop E is one thing; making it sound like anything other than robotic mud is another. The amp models in this plugin are voiced to maintain note definition and attack even with extreme amounts of gain and low tunings.

A huge part of this is the built-in dynamics control. Before the signal even hits the amp, you have a gate and a compressor.

• The Gate: Crucial for ultra-tight, staccato riffing. You can clamp down hard to eliminate any noise or string slop between notes, making chugs sound like they were programmed.
• The Pre-Compressor: This helps even out your picking dynamics before the distortion stage. It can tighten up the low-end "flub" from palm mutes and ensure a consistent, punchy attack for every note. This is a key move for getting riffs to sit right in a busy mix without becoming overwhelming.

Getting your dynamics under control is fundamental to a clean, powerful mix. For a deeper dive into how compression shapes a metal sound, check out our guide on metal compression secrets.

A Rhythmic Precision Machine

Modern metal has evolved far beyond simple 4/4 gallops. The rhythmic vocabulary now includes complex polyrhythms, odd time signatures, and syncopation that requires machine-like tightness. Lead and rhythm playing have merged; the best soloists are also typically the tightest rhythm players. Your picking hand is everything.

This is where the plugin’s "Tracer" feature shines. You can load a Guitar Pro file, and it will scroll along in real-time, showing you exactly where your pick attacks land relative to the grid. It’s a direct feedback loop for analyzing and improving your timing—the single most important skill for a modern metal guitarist. This isn’t just about tone; it’s about making you a better, tighter player.

Total Tonal Control for the Modern Producer

The days of just throwing an SM57 on a cab and calling it a day are long gone. Modern producers know their gear inside and out and use every tool at their disposal to shape the perfect tone. The Toneforge plugin reflects this with its deep post-processing section.

The 5-band parametric EQ is your ultimate weapon for carving out space in a mix. You can apply all the classic metal EQ moves right inside the plugin:

• High-Pass Filter: Cut the unnecessary sub-bass rumble below 80-120Hz to clean up mud. For more surgical control, many producers also use multiband compression to tame boomy low-end on palm mutes.
• Mid-Scoop: Carve out some space for vocals and snare, typically somewhere between 300Hz and 800Hz.
• Fizz Control: Use a narrow band (high Q) to surgically remove those harsh, grating frequencies often found between 4kHz and 8kHz that can make a tone sound cheap.

Mastering these moves is essential for getting guitars to sound huge without cluttering the entire mix. If you want to master the art of guitar EQ, our hub on EQing modern metal guitars has you covered. Of course, this is just one piece of the puzzle when learning how to balance guitars and bass in a dense mix.

Dialing It In: Actionable Settings & Workflow

Ready to dial in a tone? Here’s a tried-and-true starting point for a monstrous rhythm sound.

For Crushing Rhythm Tones

1. Select the Rhythm Amp: This is your workhorse for aggressive riffing.
2. Gain & Tightening: Set the Gain knob to around 6. Don’t max it out! Too much gain creates mush, not power. Engage the built-in "Tight" switch or place a simple Tube Screamer plugin (like a TSE 808) before Toneforge with the drive at 0 and the level at 10. This classic trick cuts low-end flub and tightens the amp's response.
3. Cab & IR: Start with the default cab settings. A great IR to try is anything based on a Mesa or Orange 4×12 cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. Find a sound you like and stick with it.
4. Post-EQ: Immediately apply a high-pass filter around 100Hz and a low-pass filter around 11kHz. This frames the tone and removes frequencies that will just fight with the cymbals and bass. From there, find and cut any harsh "fizz" frequencies.

For Soaring Lead Tones

1. Switch to the Lead Amp: This channel has more saturation and sustain.
2. Boost the Gain: You can push the gain a bit higher here, maybe to 7 or 8.
3. Engage Effects: Add the built-in Delay, syncing it to your DAW’s tempo (a dotted 8th note is a classic choice). Add a touch of Reverb to give it space and depth.
4. Post-EQ: Consider a slight boost in the upper mids (around 1.5-2.5kHz) to help your solos slice through the mix and command attention.

Bringing It All Together: The Nail The Mix Philosophy

Toneforge Jason Richardson is an incredible tool because it gives you the control and precision that modern metal production demands. It’s built for players and producers who understand that great tone comes from a smart signal chain, not just from a single magic preset.

But having a killer DI tone is just step one.

How do you get that tone to sit perfectly against pummeling double bass, a thick bass guitar, and aggressive vocals? How do you use automation, bus processing, and advanced mixing techniques to make it all sound like a cohesive, professional record?

That’s where Nail The Mix comes in. Imagine watching producers like Joey Sturgis (the guy who literally created this plugin), Jens Bogren, Adam "Nolly" Getgood, and Will Putney build a mix from the ground up using real multitracks from bands like Periphery, Gojira, and Lamb of God. You see every plugin, every EQ move, and every decision they make, explained in real time.

A great tool is powerful, but knowledge is everything. If you're ready to learn how to use tools like this to create professional-sounding mixes, check out the full Nail The Mix sessions catalog and see what you've been missing.