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Fade to Black (Metallica) bass tone and bass amp settings

Fade to Black bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: heavy drive (Drive 7), medium gain (Gain 6), forward high-mids (High Mid 2), bridge J pickup.

Settings for your amp

Pick a reference amp

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

Fade to Black settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3

Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every song

These settings play the bridge.

AmpFender Rumble 40 V3

Gain6
BrightOn
ContourOff
VintageOff
OverdriveOn
Drive7
Level6
Bass+1
Low Mid+1
High Mid+2
Treble+1
Set to your roomMaster

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)0Favor the bridge pickup, matching Burton’s documented bridge pickup.
Bridge Volume (J)10Keep the bridge pickup prominent for a tighter, more biting sound.
Tone8
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
6
Bright
On
Contour
Off
Vintage
Off
Overdrive
On
Drive
7
Level
6
Bass
+1
Low Mid
+1
High Mid
+2
Treble
+1
Master
Set to your room

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
0
Bridge Volume (J)
10
Tone
8

An EHX Big Muff-style fuzz would better match Burton’s thick, sustaining distortion.

Fade to Black settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108

Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108 settings for every song

These settings play the bridge.

AmpAmpeg Rocket Bass RB-108

SGTOn
Set to your roomVolume
Bass+1
Midrange+1
Treble+2

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)0Favor the documented bridge pickup rather than blending in the neck.
Bridge Volume (J)10Full up for the bridge-pickup attack and drive.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

SGT
On
Volume
Set to your room
Bass
+1
Midrange
+1
Treble
+2

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
0
Bridge Volume (J)
10
Tone
7

A Big Muff-style fuzz would better match the documented recorded distortion.

Fade to Black settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive

These settings play the bridge.

Amp

Bass6
Mid4
Treble7
Drive7

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)0Off to emphasize the bridge pickup.
Bridge Volume (J)10Full up for the bridge pickup’s tighter, growlier character.
Tone8
The same settings in text

Amp

Bass
6
Mid
4
Treble
7
Drive
7

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
0
Bridge Volume (J)
10
Tone
8

Add an EHX Big Muff for Burton’s documented fuzz.

The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

Fade to Black sits on Ride the Lightning, where Cliff Burton played a 1979 Burgundyglo Rickenbacker 4001 with its original pickups replaced, including a Gibson EB and a Seymour Duncan Stacked Jazz. He used that bass for several figures on the album before retiring it over technical problems. On the first two albums, an EHX Big Muff powered his distorted tone.

What gear did Cliff Burton use on Fade to Black?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

Cliff Burton

Bass
Rickenbacker 4001[1]
Pickup
Seymour Duncan Stacked Jazz[2]
Effects
EHX Big Muff[2]
  • Guitar World says Cliff Burton's 1979 Burgundyglo Rickenbacker 4001 is the bass heard on Ride the Lightning. (on the album Ride the Lightning)[1]
  • Mixdown says Burton removed the Rickenbacker's original hi-gain pickups and fitted a Gibson EB in the neck and a Seymour Duncan Stacked Jazz in the bridge. (on this song)[2]
  • Mixdown says Burton's Rickenbacker was used for several bass figures on Ride the Lightning before it was retired due to technical problems. (on the album Ride the Lightning)[2]
  • Louder says Cliff Burton was the bassist in the lineup that set about recording Ride the Lightning. (on the album Ride the Lightning)[3]
  • Mixdown says a Russian-made EHX Big Muff powered Burton's distorted tone on Metallica's first two albums. (on the album Metallica's first two albums)[2]

Questions

What gear did Cliff Burton use on Fade to Black?

The sources on this page document Cliff Burton's gear on Fade to Black by Metallica: bass, Rickenbacker 4001 [1]; pickup, Seymour Duncan Stacked Jazz [2]; effects, EHX Big Muff [2]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the Fade to Black settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?

For the Fade to Black bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 6, Bright On, Overdrive On, Drive 7, Level 6, Bass +1, Low Mid +1, High Mid +2, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 0, Bridge Volume (J) 10, Tone 8. Set Master to your room. These settings play the bridge. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Fade to Black settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?

For the Fade to Black bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set SGT On, Bass +1, Midrange +1, Treble +2; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 0, Bridge Volume (J) 10, Tone 7. Set Volume to your room. These settings play the bridge. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

Can I get the Fade to 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 Fade to 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