Fender Bassman settings
For Whom the Bell Tolls settings for Fender Bassman
Metallica · adapted 10 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "For Whom the Bell Tolls" distorted tone on a Fender Bassman, set Gain 7.5, Bass 4.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Bright switch 0. Use the both pickups (p for body, j for bite) pickup.
Distorted settings
Adapted for a Gear4Music Bass · updated 2026-10-24
- Pickup
- Both pickups (P for body, J for bite)
Fender Bassman knobs
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 4.5
- Mid
- 5.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Presence
- 6
- Bright switch
- 0
Playing tips
- Use fingerstyle to emphasize the warmth and punchiness of your bass.
- Experiment with your playing dynamics to find the sweet spot for overdrive saturation.
- Consider rolling off the tone knob slightly to avoid harshness in the high frequencies.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Bassman actually has.
- Bass
- Gibson Explorer (likely 1984 model, stock pickups at time of recording)
- Amp
- Marshall JMP 2203 (modified, 100W head, used in studio for Ride the Lightning 1984)
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 4.5
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0
Different bass or pedals? Get For Whom the Bell Tolls adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Metallica's tone to your own bass, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Fender Bassman settings for For Whom the Bell Tolls?
Set Gain 7.5, Bass 4.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Bright switch 0.
Which pickup should I use for For Whom the Bell Tolls?
Both pickups (P for body, J for bite).
What gear did Metallica use on For Whom the Bell Tolls?
Bass: Gibson Explorer (likely 1984 model, stock pickups at time of recording). Amp: Marshall JMP 2203 (modified, 100W head, used in studio for Ride the Lightning 1984).
Will these settings work with my bass?
These settings were adapted for a Gear4Music Bass. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact bass, pickups, amp and pedals.
For Whom the Bell Tolls on other amps
- For Whom the Bell Tolls on Amp · 65
- For Whom the Bell Tolls on Fender Rumble 25 · 54
- For Whom the Bell Tolls on 15W Bass Combo Amplifier by Gear4music · 39
- For Whom the Bell Tolls on Fender Rumble 15 · 37
- For Whom the Bell Tolls on Fender Rumble 40 · 35
- For Whom the Bell Tolls on Fender Rumble 100 · 21
- For Whom the Bell Tolls on Fender Mustang LT25 · 16
- For Whom the Bell Tolls on Fender Rumble LT25 · 12
Popular songs on the Fender Bassman
- Hysteria · Muse
- Message In a Bottle · The Police
- Feel Good Inc. (feat. David Jolicoeur, Kelvin Mercer & Vincent Mason) · Gorillaz & De La Soul
- Another One Bites the Dust · Queen
- Paranoid · Black Sabbath
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- My Name Is Mud · Primus
- Money · Pink Floyd
- Come Together · The Beatles
- Chop Suey! · System Of A Down
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.