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Nothing Else Matters (Metallica) bass tone and bass amp settings

Nothing Else Matters bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 4.5), heavy lows (Bass 2), even low-mids (Low Mid 1), neck P pickup.

Settings for your amp

Pick a reference amp

Nothing Else Matters settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3

Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every song

AmpFender Rumble 40 V3

Gain4.5
BrightOff
ContourOff
VintageOff
OverdriveOff
Bass+2
Low Mid+1
High Mid+1
Treble+1
Set to your roomMaster

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10P pickup supplies the rounded, punchy foundation.
Bridge Volume (J)3Adds a little definition without thinning the low end.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
4.5
Bright
Off
Contour
Off
Vintage
Off
Overdrive
Off
Bass
+2
Low Mid
+1
High Mid
+1
Treble
+1
Master
Set to your room

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
10
Bridge Volume (J)
3
Tone
7

Nothing Else Matters 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
Treble0

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Keep the P pickup full for rounded punch.
Bridge Volume (J)7Blend in definition without making the tone too wiry.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

SGT
Off
Volume
Set to your room
Bass
+1
Midrange
+1
Treble
0

Passive P/J bass

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

Nothing Else Matters settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive

Amp

Bass6
Mid5
Treble6
Drive2

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10P pickup supplies the rounded low-mid foundation.
Bridge Volume (J)7Adds definition and tightness without overpowering the P pickup.
Tone8
The same settings in text

Amp

Bass
6
Mid
5
Treble
6
Drive
2

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
10
Bridge Volume (J)
7
Tone
8
The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

Jason Newsted played an '81 Spector four-string on every album song except The Unforgiven, so that is the bass on Nothing Else Matters. His rig was a Trace GP11 preamp run direct, with SWR SM-400s for the lows, SVT heads for the mid rumble, and old Marshall cabinets for the mid-highs. On slower songs the mix leaned more on SWR and SVT. He picked one exact spot over the pickup with consistent hits.

  • Pick at one exact area right over the pickup, using consistent hits.
  • Lock the bass to the drums as a rhythm section, not as part of a guitar-and-drums section.

What amp did Jason Newsted use on Nothing Else Matters?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

Jason Newsted

Bass
'81 Spector[1]
Amp
Trace GP11 preamp[1]
  • Newsted said he played an '81 Spector four-string on every album song except The Unforgiven. (on the album The Black Album)[1]
  • Newsted said he used a Trace GP11 preamp with a direct line, SWR SM-400s, original SVT heads and 8x10 cabinets, and old Marshall guitar cabinets on the album. (on the album The Black Album)[1]
  • 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 The Black Album)[1]
  • Jason Newsted said: ‘When I started, it was the most comfortable way to play, so that was it.’ (on the album The Black Album)[1]
  • Newsted said his playing would not be quite as decisive or effective for Metallica without a pick. (on the album The Black Album)[1]
  • Newsted said he tried to pick at one exact area right over the pickup, using consistent hits, on the album. (on the album The Black Album)[1]
  • Newsted said that in Metallica the bass has to work with the drums as a rhythm section, not as a guitar-and-drums section. (on the album The Black Album)[1]
  • Newsted said Bob Rock had him try about 25 different basses and a bunch of rig combinations. (on the album The Black Album)[1]

Questions

What amp did Jason Newsted use on Nothing Else Matters?

The sources on this page document Jason Newsted's gear on Nothing Else Matters by Metallica: bass, '81 Spector [1]; amp, Trace GP11 preamp [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the Nothing Else Matters settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?

For the Nothing Else Matters bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 4.5, Bass +2, Low Mid +1, High Mid +1, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 3, Tone 7. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Nothing Else Matters settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?

For the Nothing Else Matters bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set Bass +1, Midrange +1, Treble 0; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 7, 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 Nothing Else Matters 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 Nothing Else Matters, 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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