BassDistortedDistorted
Wasp / Behind the Wall of Sleep / Bassically / N.I.B. Bass Tone Settings
Black Sabbath · 1970s · metal
studio
Original Recording
A reconstruction of the bass tone. Gear attributions and estimated settings are explained in the research notes below.
Bass
Fender Precision Bass (circa late 1960s, likely 1969-1970 model)
Pickups
Split single-coil (Precision Bass configuration)
Amp
Laney Supergroup (AOR Pro Tube Lead 100; 70-watt guitar head) into Park 4x12 cabinet (with two blown speakers)
Pickup Position
Single split-coil pickup (Precision Bass, no blend)
Studio recording, 1969 (album released 1970); tracked live in studio; amp-mic'd, no evidence of DI
Amp Settings
Suggested starting points on a 0–10 scale, not documented studio knob positions. Match to your gear for controls specific to your setup.
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6.5
Treble6
Presence6
compression2.5
Effects Chain
- Tycobrahe Parapedal Wah (or similar vintage wah, possibly shared with Iommi) · wah
Fender Precision Bass (passive) → Tycobrahe Parapedal Wah → Laney Supergroup guitar amp (gain at 7, pushed into overdrive) → Park 4x12 cab (mic'd in studio)
Tone Matcher
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Tone Character
- growly midrange
- thick, saturated low end
- vintage tube overdrive
- wah-filtered sweeps
- raw, biting attack
- slightly compressed by amp saturation
- vocal-like filter movement
- aggressive, fuzzy edge
- punchy and present in the mix
Playing Technique
- fingerstyle
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
studio