Cemetery Gates Bass Tone Settings — Pantera
Pantera · 1990s · Groove metal / Heavy metal
Original Recording
Rex Brown used a Kramer Ferrington acoustic bass for the intro; main bass likely Charvel Fusion or Charvel/Jackson electric used during recording era; amplification via Ampeg SVT for grind tone.
Amp Settings
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Tone Character
- grindy
- thick
- punchy
- acoustic intro contrast
Playing Technique
- Anchor the riff with an even finger attack · difficulty 3/5Alternate index and middle fingers with the same depth and volume. Rex Brown's role here depends on consistency beneath the guitar; uneven plucks make the driven bass jump in and out of the mix instead of feeling welded to the drums.
- Mute immediately after the heavy accents · difficulty 3/5Use both hands to stop unused strings at the end of accented notes. Distortion magnifies sympathetic ringing, so clean releases are as important as the attack when the arrangement pivots from open space to tightly controlled weight.
- Keep the low end firm, not oversized · difficulty 2/5Pluck closer to the bridge than the neck and avoid pulling the string too far outward. A compact transient helps the bass sit beside Vinnie Paul's kick while the amp drive supplies the thickness.
- Follow the song's dynamic arc · difficulty 3/5Back off during the reflective passages, then increase attack rather than simply adding gain for the heavy section. That hand-driven contrast preserves the emotional lift and keeps the distorted tone articulate when the band reaches full intensity.
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
- Style and eraThis is Pantera's 1990 Cowboys from Hell breakthrough era, balancing power-ballad space with the harder, more precise sound the band was about to make its signature.
- Player identityRex Brown's bass role is tightly interlocked with Dimebag Darrell's guitar. His tone favors punch, grind, and rhythmic discipline over a loose wall of low end.
- Why the heavy section needs itThe distorted passage needs a firm attack and audible note center so the bass survives the jump from spacious verses into Pantera's full-band weight.
- Why it worksControlled drive thickens the entrance without masking pitch, giving the song its dramatic scale while leaving room for the kick, vocal, and Dimebag's wide guitar tone.
What Fans Are Saying About This Tone?
Fans still call it a masterpiece and return to it as essential Pantera.
Vote your takeThe call-and-response between Phil's scream and Dimebag's guitar remains a fan-favorite moment.
Vote your takeOne listener praised the riffs, solo, and contrast between the clean and heavy sections.
Vote your takeA recent comment singled out Rex's bass tone as a huge part of the song's emotional weight.
Vote your takeThe track still inspires the familiar joke that the whole neighborhood gets to hear Pantera too.
Vote your take