Distorted Tone
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Bassmetal1970s
Original Gear
BassFender Precision Bass (circa 1969-1970, American, passive electronics)
AmpLaney Supergroup LA100BL 70-watt guitar head into Park 4x12 cabinet (two blown speakers)
PickupsSplit single-coil (Precision Bass, single pickup)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6
mid7
treble6
presence6
compression1.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1969 (album released 1970). Geezer Butler ran his Precision Bass through a Laney guitar amp (not a bass amp) into a Park 4x12 cabinet with blown speakers for the signature distortion. No DI, amp-mic'd.
Tone Character(9)
heavily overdrivenfuzzygrowling midrangeloose, ragged distortionthick, compressed lowsaggressive attackvintage tube breakupslightly scooped highsraw, uncompressed feel
Difficulty
The part is rhythmically simple but requires careful control of dynamics and note length to maintain clarity through heavy amp overdrive. The slow tempo and sustained notes demand good muting and articulation.
Sources
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Create Free AccountBassmetal1970s
Original Gear
BassFender Precision Bass (circa 1969-1970, American, passive electronics)
AmpLaney Supergroup LA100BL 70-watt guitar head into Park 4x12 cabinet (two blown speakers)
PickupsSplit single-coil (Precision Bass, single pickup)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6
mid7
treble6
presence6
compression1.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1969 (album released 1970). Geezer Butler ran his Precision Bass through a Laney guitar amp (not a bass amp) into a Park 4x12 cabinet with blown speakers for the signature distortion. No DI, amp-mic'd.
Tone Character(9)
heavily overdrivenfuzzygrowling midrangeloose, ragged distortionthick, compressed lowsaggressive attackvintage tube breakupslightly scooped highsraw, uncompressed feel
Difficulty
The part is rhythmically simple but requires careful control of dynamics and note length to maintain clarity through heavy amp overdrive. The slow tempo and sustained notes demand good muting and articulation.
Black Sabbath settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
More Black Sabbath tones
- Paranoid · riff
- Iron man · riff
- War Pigs · riff
- Into the Void · riff
- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath · riff
- Paranoid · solo
- Children of the Grave · riff
- N.I.B. · riff
- A National Acrobat · riff
- Sweet Leaf · riff