Californication (Red Hot Chili Peppers) bass tone and bass amp settings
Californication bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 3.5), balanced lows (Bass 1), even high-mids (High Mid 1), neck P pickup.
Settings for your amp
Californication 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
- 3.5
- Bright
- Off
- Contour
- Off
- Vintage
- Off
- Overdrive
- Off
- Bass
- +1
- Low Mid
- 0
- High Mid
- +1
- Treble
- 0
- Master
- Set to your room
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 3
- Tone
- 8
A transparent bass compressor would approximate the recorded LA-2A compression.
Californication 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
- +1
- Treble
- 0
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 6
- Tone
- 8
A studio DI and gentle compressor would better match the recorded chain.
Californication settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
Amp
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 5
- Drive
- 2
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 3.5
- Tone
- 7.5
Add a compressor for the documented DI-and-amp compression.
Why it sounds like that
On Californication, Flea never went to his amp to change anything, and he used the same bass for the whole album, apart from an acoustic bass on “Road Trippin’.” The bass went straight into the desk, and the amp speakers were also recorded with a Neumann U47 tube microphone. LA2A tube compressors handled both signals, with little EQ added, apart from maybe a little bottom end.
- Jim Scott said he did not think he added much EQ to Flea’s bass, apart from maybe a little bottom end around 56Hz.
Original gear on the record
- Jim Scott said Flea never went to his amp to change anything, and used the same bass for the whole album, apart from on “Road Trippin’,” where he played an acoustic bass. (on the album Californication)[1]
- Jim Scott said the bass went DI into the desk, and that he also recorded the amp speakers with a Neumann U47 tube microphone. (on the album Californication)[1][2]
- Jim Scott said he compressed Flea’s DI and amp sound with LA2A tube compressors. (on the album Californication)[1][2]
- Jim Scott said he did not think he added much EQ to Flea’s bass, apart from maybe a little bottom end around 56Hz. (on the album Californication)[1]
Questions
What are the Californication settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?
For the Californication bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 3.5, Bass +1, Low Mid 0, High Mid +1, Treble 0; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 3, Tone 8. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What are the Californication settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?
For the Californication bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set Bass +1, Midrange +1, Treble 0; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 6, Tone 8. Set Volume to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
Can I get the Californication 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 Californication, 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.
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