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I Want You Back (The Jackson 5) bass tone and bass amp settings

I Want You Back bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 4), balanced lows (Bass 1), even low-mids (Low Mid 1), neck P pickup.

Settings for your amp

Pick a reference amp

I Want You Back settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3

Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every song

AmpFender Rumble 40 V3

Gain4
BrightOff
ContourOff
VintageOn
OverdriveOff
Bass+1
Low Mid+1
High Mid+1
Treble0
Set to your roomMaster

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Favor the Precision-style pickup for the original’s rounded punch.
Bridge Volume (J)0Keep the Jazz pickup out for a closer Precision-style voice.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
4
Bright
Off
Contour
Off
Vintage
On
Overdrive
Off
Bass
+1
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
7

I Want You Back settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108

Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108 settings for every song

AmpAmpeg Rocket Bass RB-108

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

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Full P pickup for the Precision-style foundation
Bridge Volume (J)0Keep the bridge pickup out for a rounder tone
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)
0
Tone
7

I Want You Back settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive

Amp

Bass5
Mid6
Treble5
Drive0

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Full to emphasize the documented Precision-style pickup.
Bridge Volume (J)0Off to keep the tone focused on the P pickup.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Bass
5
Mid
6
Treble
5
Drive
0

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
10
Bridge Volume (J)
0
Tone
7
The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

Wilton Felder recorded the bass line for I Want You Back in LA. For the recording he played a 1968 Fender Precision Bass, which featured a single-coil pickup and the original Precision headstock. The bass part was mostly written out, and Felder added just a bit of his own to it.

  • Felder said the bass part was mostly written out, and that he added just a bit of himself to it.

What bass did Wilton Felder use on I Want You Back?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

Wilton Felder

Bass
1968 Fender Precision Bass[4]
  • No Treble names Wilton Felder as the consensus pick for the bass on I Want You Back. (on this song)[1]
  • No Treble says Felder, along with Bob Babbitt, was taking on more Motown projects as James Jamerson's role declined. (on this song)[1]
  • No Treble says there has been debate over who actually played bass on I Want You Back. (on this song)[1]
  • The AP obituary says Felder took part in the Motown session that produced the Jackson 5 hit. (on this song)[2]
  • No Treble’s 2015 memoriam says Felder played the bass line for I Want You Back. (on this song)[3]
  • Guitar World says Wilton Felder recorded the bassline for I Want You Back in LA. (on this song)[4]
  • Guitar World says Felder played a 1968 Fender Precision Bass on the recording. (on this song)[4]
  • Guitar World says Felder's 1968 Precision featured a single-coil pickup and the original Precision headstock. (on this song)[4]
  • Felder said the bass part was mostly written out, and that he added just a bit of himself to it. (on this song)[4]

Questions

What bass did Wilton Felder use on I Want You Back?

The sources on this page document Wilton Felder's gear on I Want You Back by The Jackson 5: bass, 1968 Fender Precision Bass [4]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the I Want You Back settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?

For the I Want You Back bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 4, Vintage On, Bass +1, Low Mid +1, High Mid +1, Treble 0; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 0, Tone 7. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the I Want You Back settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?

For the I Want You Back 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) 0, Tone 7. Set Volume to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

Can I get the I Want You Back 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 I Want You Back, 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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