Distorted Tone

Slaves & Bulldozers (Remastered 2016)

Soundgarden

Bassrock1990s

Original Gear

BassFender Precision Bass (early '70s, likely 1972, with Dean Markley flatwound strings)

AmpAmpeg SVT (classic tube head) + Mesa/Boogie Strategy 500 (dual amp blend, studio context)

PickupsSplit single-coil (Precision Bass standard)

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6

mid6.5

treble6

presence6

compression4

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, Badmotorfinger sessions (1991, applies to Remastered 2016 as same tracks); amp-mic'd with likely DI blend; confirmed use of Ampeg SVT and Mesa/Boogie Strategy 500 in studio.

Tone Character(9)

growly midrange snarlmassive low-end punchfuzzy, saturated grindslightly compressed attackaggressive, biting overdrivethick, sustaining distortionclear note definition under heavy driveslight high-end sizzleweighty, chest-thumping lows

Difficulty

The part is not technically complex but requires strong timing, dynamic control, and the ability to maintain clarity and punch through heavy overdrive and a dense mix.

Sources

Ben Shepherd - Soundgarden (what bass/rig did he play on Badmotorfinger album?)Ben Shepherd bass tone any bassists know how i could get this tone? : r/Soundgarden Ben Shepherd | Equipboard

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