Distorted Tone

Paranoid

Black Sabbath

Bassmetal1970s

Original Gear

BassFender Precision Bass (late 1960s, likely 1968-69, passive electronics)

AmpMarshall Super Bass 100 (model 1992, 100W tube head) into 4x12 guitar cabs (studio), possibly Laney Supergroup for some live shows

PickupsSplit single-coil (Precision Bass standard)

Amp Settings

gain6

bass5

mid7

treble6.5

presence6

compression3

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1970, Paranoid album. Geezer Butler used a Fender Precision Bass through a Marshall Super Bass 100 head into guitar cabs. No evidence of DI or pedals for this track; all distortion from amp overdrive.

Tone Character(9)

growly midrangeaggressive upper-mid biteraspy overdriven edgetight low endslightly compressed attackclear note separationclassic tube amp grindaudible string clankpunchy and forward

Difficulty

The line is fast and driving, requiring stamina and tight timing, but is otherwise straightforward with little syncopation or complex fills.

Sources

Geezer Butler - Equipboard Geezer Butler's tone on the album 'Paranoid' | TalkBass.com Anybody else think Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath is kinda ... - Reddit

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