BassDistortedDistorted90% confidence
For Whom the Bell Tolls Bass Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · Thrash metal
Original Recording
Bass
Rickenbacker 4001 (heavily modified)
Pickups
Gibson EB‑0 humbucker (neck), Seymour Duncan Stack Jazz Bass (bridge), plus a hidden Seymour Duncan Strat pickup
Amp
Mesa/Boogie D‑180 tube head (possibly dual heads for clean and effects chains)
Pickup Position
both
Cliff Burton’s Rickenbacker was modded with multiple pickups; he used Mesa/Boogie D‑180 heads and cabinets; effects chain included Morley Power Wah Boost, Boss CS‑2, and Russian Big Muff
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass5
Gain7.5
Treble7
Presence7
compression4
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Tone Character
- Heavily distorted
- Wah-inflected
- Cutting midrange
- Sustain-heavy
- Aggressive, lead‑bass style
Playing Technique
- fingerstyle
Notes & Caveats
- Bass tone settings derived from AI knowledge of the artist and genre conventions.