Distorted Tone

God Only Knows

The Beach Boys

Basspop1960s

Original Gear

BassFender Precision Bass (1960s, likely sunburst, passive electronics)

AmpAmpeg B-15N Portaflex (highly likely, classic LA studio amp of the era)

PickupsSplit single-coil (Precision Bass standard)

Amp Settings

gain4.5

bass6

mid5.5

treble5

presence5

compression4

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1966, Western Recorders, Los Angeles. Carol Kaye on electric bass for this track.

Tone Character(10)

gritty and slightly overdrivencrunchy attackdeep and thumpy low endmuted, percussivemidrange punchvintage tube warmthreverb-ladenslapback echonoticeable pick clickpresent in the mix

Difficulty

The line requires tight, muted pick playing and careful timing to lock with the slapback echo and reverb, but is not technically virtuosic.

Sources

Bass sound in God Only Knows Who played bass on 'God Only Knows?'How was the bass guitar recorded and mixed on Pet Sounds?

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