For Whom The Bell Tolls (Metallica) bass tone and bass amp settings
For Whom The Bell Tolls bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: heavy drive (Drive 7), medium gain (Gain 6), heavy lows (Bass 2), bridge J pickup.
Settings for your amp
The song has distinct sounds: Distorted intro, Bridge, Flanged interlude. Each rig below lists what to change for them.
For Whom The Bell Tolls settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3
Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every songThese settings play the bridge.
AmpFender Rumble 40 V3
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Gain
- 6
- Bright
- On
- Contour
- Off
- Vintage
- Off
- Overdrive
- On
- Drive
- 7
- Level
- 5
- Bass
- +2
- Low Mid
- +1
- High Mid
- +2
- Treble
- +1
- Master
- Set to your room
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 5
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 10
- Tone
- 8
A wah and flanger-capable multi-effects unit would add the documented effects.
For Whom The Bell Tolls settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108 settings for every songThese settings play the distorted intro, bridge.
AmpAmpeg 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)
- 6
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 10
- Tone
- 8
A Big Muff, wah, and flanger would better capture Burton’s effects.
For Whom The Bell Tolls settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
These settings play the distorted intro, bridge.
Amp
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Drive
- 7.5
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 7
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 10
- Tone
- 8
Add fuzz, wah, and flanger pedals for the documented effects.
Song parts
Fender Rumble 40 V3
Distorted intro:
Drive 8
.Lean into the distorted lead-bass riff.
Flanged interlude:
Overdrive Off
.Use a lighter touch; this rig cannot create the flange.
Song parts
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108
Flanged interlude:
Tone 6
.Roll back tone for a darker interlude contrast.
Song parts
Any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
Flanged interlude:
Mid 6.5, Drive 6.5, Tone 7
.Add a flanger for the characteristic sweeping movement.
Why it sounds like that
The intro is built on distortion and wah-wah effects on the bass, and Kirk Hammett called its note choice a weird chromatic thing. Its opening four-bar riff exemplifies Burton's lead-bass approach and fingerstyle technique. A Morley Power Wah Boost can be heard on the track, and a flanged bass line runs between the crashing power chords. On Metallica's first two albums, a Russian-made EHX Big Muff powered his distorted tone. The Rickenbacker 4001 he played on Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning had its original pickups replaced with a Gibson EB in the neck and a Seymour Duncan Stacked Jazz in the bridge, a set-up that suited his heavy effects use and fingered style.
- Play the opening four-bar riff fingerstyle, with a lead-bass attack.
- Add a wah and distortion for the intro.
What gear did Cliff Burton use on For Whom The Bell Tolls?
- Guitar World reports Burton’s 1979 Burgundyglo Rickenbacker 4001 is the bass heard on Kill ’Em All and Ride the Lightning. (on the album Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning)[1]
- Guitar World reports that the Rickenbacker was modded with a Gibson EB, a Seymour Duncan stacked Jazz and a Duncan Stratocaster pickup under the bridge. (on the album Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning)[1]
- Mixdown reports Burton’s Rickenbacker 4001 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]
- Mixdown reports Burton replaced the Rickenbacker’s original hi-gain pickups to suit his heavy effects pedal use and fingered bass style, fitting a Gibson EB in the neck and a Seymour Duncan Stacked Jazz in the bridge. (on the album Ride the Lightning)[2]
- Mixdown reports 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]
- Mixdown reports Burton’s Morley Power Wah Boost can be heard on ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’. (on this song)[2]
- Distorted intro: Louder reports Burton added distortion and wah-wah effects to his bass in the song’s lengthy intro. (on this song)[3]
- Flanged interlude: Louder reports Burton inserted a flanged bass line between crashing power chords. (on this song)[3]
- Distorted intro: Guitar World reports the song opens with a four-bar bass riff that exemplifies Burton’s ‘lead bass’ approach and fingerstyle technique. (on this song)[4]
- Distorted intro: Kirk Hammett said the intro was Burton’s own creation and called its note choice a weird chromatic thing. (on this song)[5]
- Mixdown reports two Mesa Boogie D-180 heads were the source of Burton’s heavy tone in Metallica. (in a later era)[2]
- Mixdown reports Burton received an Aria endorsement around 1985, and then his trademark Aria Black n’ Gold. (in a later era)[2]
Questions
What gear did Cliff Burton use on For Whom The Bell Tolls?
The sources on this page document Cliff Burton's gear on For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica: bass, 1979 Burgundyglo Rickenbacker 4001 [1]; pickup, Seymour Duncan Stacked Jazz (bridge) [1]; effects, Morley Power Wah Boost [2]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.
What are the For Whom The Bell Tolls settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?
For the For Whom The Bell Tolls bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 6, Bright On, Overdrive On, Drive 7, Level 5, Bass +2, Low Mid +1, High Mid +2, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 5, 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 For Whom The Bell Tolls settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?
For the For Whom The Bell Tolls 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) 6, Bridge Volume (J) 10, Tone 8. Set Volume to your room. These settings play the distorted intro and bridge. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
Can I get the For Whom The Bell Tolls 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 For Whom The Bell Tolls, 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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