Enter Sandman (Metallica) bass tone and bass amp settings
Enter Sandman bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: clean (Drive 2), medium gain (Gain 5), forward high-mids (High Mid 2), both pickups.
Settings for your amp
Enter Sandman 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
- 5
- Bright
- Off
- Contour
- Off
- Vintage
- Off
- Overdrive
- On
- Drive
- 2
- Level
- 5
- Bass
- +1
- Low Mid
- +1
- High Mid
- +2
- Treble
- +1
- Master
- Set to your room
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 8
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 7
- Tone
- 8
Enter Sandman 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
- On
- Volume
- Set to your room
- Bass
- +1
- Midrange
- +2
- Treble
- +2
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 8
- Tone
- 8
A Trace-style preamp and SVT-style cabinet better approximate the recorded blend.
Enter Sandman settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
Amp
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Bass
- 5.5
- Mid
- 6.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Drive
- 3.5
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 6.5
- Tone
- 8.5
A Trace-style bass preamp/DI would better approximate the recorded rig.
Why it sounds like that
On Enter Sandman, Bob Rock asked Jason Newsted to play more like a bass player and less like a guitarist. Newsted said the bass has to work with the drums as a rhythm section. He tried to pick at one exact area right over the pickup, using consistent hits. On the album he used an '81 Spector four-string on every song except The Unforgiven, with a Trace GP11 preamp run direct, SWR SM-400s, original SVT heads and old Marshall cabinets. Rock put a compressor across the drums and bass on the mix bus and left the guitars uncompressed.
- Play more like a bass player and less like a guitarist, as Rock asked for this song.
- Pick at one exact area right over the pickup, with consistent hits.
What amp did Jason Newsted use on Enter Sandman?
- Bob Rock said he asked Newsted to play more like a bass player and less like a guitarist on Enter Sandman. (on this song)[1]
- Newsted said he played an '81 Spector four-string on every album song except The Unforgiven, which used a '59 Precision. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[2]
- Newsted said he used a Trace GP11 preamp with a direct line, SWR SM-400s, original SVT heads with 8x10 cabinets, and old Marshall guitar cabinets on the album. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[2]
- Newsted said the amp mix changed from song to song, with more SWR and SVT on slow songs and an equal mix of everything on angrier ones such as Holier Than Thou. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[2]
- Bob Rock said the SSL mix bus let him put a compressor across the drums and bass, with the guitars left uncompressed. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[3]
- Mix reports the live room was used for Newsted's bass, which went through a few SVT cabinets and DI. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[3]
- Jason Newsted said: ‘When I started, it was the most comfortable way to play, so that was it.’ (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[2]
- Newsted said he did not think his playing would be as decisive or effective for Metallica without a pick. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[2]
- Newsted said he tried to pick at one exact area right over the pickup, using consistent hits, on the album. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[2]
- Newsted said the bass has to work with the drums as a rhythm section in Metallica, not as part of a guitar-and-drums section. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[2]
- MusicRadar reports Newsted used a Spector NS bass on Enter Sandman. (on this song)[4]
- Newsted said Bob Rock had him try about 25 different basses and a bunch of rig combinations. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[2]
- Newsted said that for a part below E on the album, he re-strung a 4-string with the bottom strings of a 5-string. (on the album Metallica (The Black Album))[2]
Questions
What amp did Jason Newsted use on Enter Sandman?
The sources on this page document Jason Newsted's gear on Enter Sandman by Metallica: bass, '81 Spector four-string [2]; amp, Trace GP11 preamp with direct line; SWR SM-400s; original SVT heads with 8x10 cabinets; old Marshall guitar cabinets [2]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.
What are the Enter Sandman settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?
For the Enter Sandman bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 5, Overdrive On, Drive 2, Level 5, Bass +1, Low Mid +1, High Mid +2, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 8, Bridge Volume (J) 7, Tone 8. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What are the Enter Sandman settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?
For the Enter Sandman bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set SGT On, Bass +1, Midrange +2, Treble +2; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 8, 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 Enter Sandman 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 Enter Sandman, 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