Want the tone behind a famous bassline on your own rig? Here are the researched amp settings and gear for 31 iconic basslines — from Flea and Geddy Lee to Jaco, Cliff Burton and John Deacon — each adapted to your bass, amp and pedals.
Dialing in bass tone: on a bass amp, "gain" is your grind/drive — start clean and add only what the song needs. Keep the low end tight (don't max the bass), let the low-mids carry the punch, and remember: fingerstyle vs pick vs slap changes the tone as much as the EQ.