Back In Black (AC/DC) bass tone and bass amp settings
Back In Black bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 4), balanced lows (Bass 1), even low-mids (Low Mid 1), bridge J pickup.
Settings for your amp
Back In Black settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3
Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every songAmpFender Rumble 40 V3
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Gain
- 4
- Bright
- Off
- Contour
- Off
- Vintage
- Off
- Overdrive
- Off
- Bass
- +1
- Low Mid
- +1
- High Mid
- +1
- Treble
- 0
- Master
- Set to your room
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 5
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 10
- Tone
- 8
Back In Black settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108 settings for every songAmpAmpeg Rocket Bass RB-108
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- SGT
- Off
- Volume
- Set to your room
- Bass
- +1
- Midrange
- +2
- Treble
- +1
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 7
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 9
- Tone
- 7
Back In Black settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
Amp
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 6
- Drive
- 2
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 8
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 5
- Tone
- 7
Why it sounds like that
Cliff Williams played bass on Back In Black, and every song was tracked with both guitars, bass and drums. His rig sat in a tiny area beside the drum kit. The bass went through an Ampeg Portaflex amp, picked up by a D20 microphone and possibly a 414, alongside a DI.
- Keep the part simple and play only what the song needs.
What amp did Cliff Williams use on Back In Black?
Cliff Williams
- Amp
- Ampeg Portaflex[1]
- Cliff Williams was the bassist when the band returned to the studio in April 1980 to record Back In Black. (on the album Back In Black)[1]
- Malcolm Young said he believed Cliff Williams had a little SVT amp on Back In Black. (on the album Back In Black)[2]
- Cliff Williams's bass rig was set up in a tiny area next to the drums during the Back In Black sessions. (on the album Back In Black)[1]
- Tony Platt said all the songs on Back In Black were tracked with the two guitarists, bass and drums. (on the album Back In Black)[3]
- Williams's trusty bass is a 1979 Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray, which he calls his mainstay. (in a later era)[4]
- Williams said he used a Fender Jazz for a while, possibly before the Music Man, and played a Gibson Thunderbird for a bit. (in a later era)[4]
- Williams said his playing has become a little simpler, and he tries to play only what a song needs. (in a later era)[4]
- Engineer Tony Platt said the bass was recorded with a D20 and possibly a 414 on the Ampeg Portaflex amp, along with a DI. (on the album Back In Black)[1]
Questions
What amp did Cliff Williams use on Back In Black?
The sources on this page document Cliff Williams's gear on Back In Black by AC/DC: amp, Ampeg Portaflex [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.
What are the Back In Black settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?
For the Back In Black bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 4, Bass +1, Low Mid +1, High Mid +1, Treble 0; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 5, Bridge Volume (J) 10, Tone 8. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What are the Back In Black settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?
For the Back In Black bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set Bass +1, Midrange +2, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 7, Bridge Volume (J) 9, Tone 7. Set Volume to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
Can I get the Back In Black tone on my own amp?
Yes. The settings above cover 2 reference amps and any amp with the basic controls. For your exact rig, KnobMaster, an iPhone app, sets every knob of your own amp, bass and pedals for Back In Black, using only the controls your gear has.
Get it for your exact rig
KnobMaster sets every knob of your own amp, bass and pedals for this song.
Download KnobMaster on the App Store