Livin' On A Prayer (Bon Jovi) bass tone and bass amp settings
Livin' On A Prayer bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 4.5), balanced lows (Bass 1), even low-mids (Low Mid 1), neck P pickup.
Settings for your amp
Livin' On A Prayer 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
- 4.5
- Bright
- On
- Contour
- Off
- Vintage
- Off
- 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
Livin' On A Prayer 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
- +2
- Treble
- +1
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 0
- Tone
- 8
Livin' On A Prayer settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
Amp
BassPassive P/J bass
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
- 8
Why it sounds like that
Hugh McDonald played the bass on this recording, using a 1963 Fender Precision plucked with two fingers and strung with La Bella roundwounds. The bass was recorded direct. The part is a sub-hook under synth pads: an ostinato through the verse, broken up by fills, then chord tones and chromatic passing notes that drive the chorus, with a gallop feel in the final chorus.
- On the intro, alternate E octaves on beat one with low E notes on beat three.
- In the verse, keep the part as an ostinato under the chord changes and vary it with fills.
What bass did Hugh McDonald use on Livin' On A Prayer?
Hugh McDonald
- Bass
- '63 Fender Precision[1]
- Guitar World reports McDonald became the band's uncredited recording bassist beginning with Slippery When Wet, while Alec John Such handled bass duties on tour. (on the album Slippery When Wet)[1]
- McDonald said he came upon the bassline heard on the track after everyone pitched in ideas and variations. (on this song)[1]
- Ultimate Classic Rock reports Hugh McDonald made an uncredited contribution to the song. (on this song)[2]
- Jon Bon Jovi said the bass line came to life in the demo studio, when the band took it back and worked it up. (on this song)[2]
- Guitar World reports Hugh McDonald played a '63 Fender Precision, strung with La Bella roundwounds and recorded direct. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World reports Hugh McDonald plucked the bass with two fingers. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World reports the band cut the rhythm track live, with a scratch vocal from Bon Jovi. (on this song)[1]
- Intro: Guitar World reports the intro is McDonald's E minor sub-hook, with E octaves on beat one and low E notes on beat three, after synth pads. (on this song)[1]
- Verse: Guitar World reports the verse is an ostinato pedal, with McDonald breaking up the part through fill variations. (on this song)[1]
- Pre-chorus: Guitar World reports McDonald switches to straight eighth notes in the pre-chorus, with a push on the D chord. (on this song)[1]
- Chorus: Guitar World reports McDonald uses chord tones and chromatic passing tones in the first chorus, with a descending G triad. (on this song)[1]
- Chorus: Guitar World reports McDonald plays a Jamerson-style gallop feel in the final chorus, with a descending chromatic passing tone. (on this song)[1]
- McDonald says the part should swing and not sound stiff or robotic, and that the attack should be even. (on this song)[1]
- McDonald said some of his basslines come to him when he hears the changes, and Livin' On A Prayer was one. (on this song)[3]
- McDonald said he played on everything from Slippery When Wet onward. (on the album Slippery When Wet)[3]
Questions
What bass did Hugh McDonald use on Livin' On A Prayer?
The sources on this page document Hugh McDonald's gear on Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi: bass, '63 Fender Precision [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.
What are the Livin' On A Prayer settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?
For the Livin' On A Prayer bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 4.5, Bright 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 Livin' On A Prayer settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?
For the Livin' On A Prayer bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set Bass +1, Midrange +2, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 0, 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 Livin' On A Prayer 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 Livin' On A Prayer, 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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