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Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) bass tone and bass amp settings

Billie Jean bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 3.5), heavy lows (Bass 2), even low-mids (Low Mid 1), neck P pickup.

Settings for your amp

Pick a reference amp

The song has distinct sounds: Intro. Each rig below lists what to change for them.

Billie Jean settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3

Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every song

These settings play the intro.

AmpFender Rumble 40 V3

Gain3.5
BrightOff
ContourOff
VintageOn
OverdriveOff
Bass+2
Low Mid+1
High Mid+1
Treble0
Set to your roomMaster

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Full for a rounded, punchy P-pickup sound.
Bridge Volume (J)0Off to avoid extra bridge-pickup bite.
Tone6.5
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
3.5
Bright
Off
Contour
Off
Vintage
On
Overdrive
Off
Bass
+2
Low Mid
+1
High Mid
+1
Treble
0
Master
Set to your room

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
10
Bridge Volume (J)
0
Tone
6.5

Add a synth layer to approximate the track’s layered bass arrangement.

Billie Jean settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108

Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108 settings for every song

These settings play the intro.

AmpAmpeg Rocket Bass RB-108

SGTOff
Set to your roomVolume
Bass+1
Midrange+1
Treble-1

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Emphasizes the round, warm fundamental.
Bridge Volume (J)3Adds definition without making the blend too bright.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

SGT
Off
Volume
Set to your room
Bass
+1
Midrange
+1
Treble
-1

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
10
Bridge Volume (J)
3
Tone
7

Layer in synth bass tones for the original's fuller low end.

Billie Jean settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive

These settings play the intro.

Amp

Bass6
Mid5.5
Treble5
Drive0

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Full P pickup for rounded, punchy low end
Bridge Volume (J)2Low blend adds definition without excess growl
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Bass
6
Mid
5.5
Treble
5
Drive
0

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
10
Bridge Volume (J)
2
Tone
7

Layer a synth-bass sound to approximate the original's three synthesizers.

The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

Louis Johnson played the bass on Billie Jean on his Yamaha bass, which Jackson picked after Johnson played the intro on every instrument he owned. The bass sound is four instruments playing the line at once: his electric bass and three synthesizers. The engineer recorded the bass through a direct box with a UTC transformer, and its low end is very warm. The bass intro runs 29 seconds before the vocal comes in.

  • Let the bass line carry a long intro before the vocal comes in.
  • Build the bass sound from several instruments playing the same line together.

What bass did Louis Johnson use on Billie Jean?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

Louis Johnson

Bass
Yamaha bass[3]
  • Swedien said Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson played the bass on Billie Jean. (on this song)[1]
  • Vintage Guitar reports Louis Johnson can be heard on the album Thriller. (on the album Thriller)[2]
  • American Songwriter reports Johnson played a Yamaha bass on the track. (on this song)[3]
  • Swedien said he recorded the bass through a DI with a UTC transformer, which he still owns. (on this song)[1]
  • Intro: American Songwriter says Johnson and Tom Scott created the intro to Billie Jean. (on this song)[3]
  • Intro: American Songwriter says the bass line intro ran long before Jackson's vocals came in. (on this song)[3]
  • Bonedo says the Billie Jean bass sound is four instruments playing at once: three synthesizers and an electric bass. (on this song)[4]
  • Swedien said the low end of the bass is very warm. (on this song)[1]

Questions

What bass did Louis Johnson use on Billie Jean?

The sources on this page document Louis Johnson's gear on Billie Jean by Michael Jackson: bass, Yamaha bass [3]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the Billie Jean settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?

For the Billie Jean bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 3.5, Vintage On, Bass +2, Low Mid +1, High Mid +1, Treble 0; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 0, Tone 6.5. Set Master to your room. These settings play the intro. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Billie Jean settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?

For the Billie Jean bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set Bass +1, Midrange +1, Treble -1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 3, Tone 7. Set Volume to your room. These settings play the intro. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

Can I get the Billie Jean 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 Billie Jean, 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