One (Metallica) bass tone and bass amp settings
One bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 3), scooped low-mids (Low Mid -2), even high-mids (High Mid 1), both pickups.
Settings for your amp
One 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
- 3
- Bright
- Off
- Contour
- Off
- Vintage
- Off
- Overdrive
- Off
- Bass
- 0
- Low Mid
- -2
- High Mid
- +1
- Treble
- +1
- Master
- Set to your room
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 7
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 6
- Tone
- 8
One 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
- 0
- Midrange
- -1
- Treble
- -1
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 7
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 5
- Tone
- 5
One settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
Amp
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7
- Drive
- 2
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 6
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 8
- Tone
- 8
Why it sounds like that
Jason Newsted played a five-string Wal on the album. The bass was recorded through both a DI and its amp, and the amp went through the Neve preamp. Lars and James asked for the bass to be turned down, and on the album you really can't hear it. The bass frequencies got in the way of James's rhythm guitar sound, and Newsted recorded his parts with nobody there to work them out with.
- Record the bass after the rhythm guitars, playing to them.
- Record the bass direct, and run the amp through a preamp.
What bass did Jason Newsted use on One?
Jason Newsted
- Bass
- five‑string Wal[1]
- Newsted played a five-string Wal bass during the album sessions. (on the album ...And Justice for All)[1]
- The bass was recorded through both a DI and its amp, with the amp going through the Neve preamp. (on the album ...And Justice for All)[1]
- Newsted played his bass part to the rhythm guitars on One. (on this song)[1]
- Newsted said the album did not feel good to him, because you really can't hear the bass. (on the album ...And Justice for All)[1]
- Rasmussen said Lars and James asked for the bass to be turned down after hearing the initial mixes. (on the album ...And Justice for All)[1]
- Rasmussen said the bass is inaudible on the album, and that very few people know what the bass parts sounded like. (on the album ...And Justice for All)[1]
- Hammett said the bass frequencies in Newsted's tone interfered with James's rhythm guitar sound. (on the album ...And Justice for All)[2]
- Newsted said nobody was in the studio to work the bass parts out with him. (on the album ...And Justice for All)[2]
- Rasmussen said Toby took care of all the bass recordings, because he was hired for a more regular daytime/evening schedule. (on the album ...And Justice for All)[1]
- Ultimateclassicrock reports that As Newsted sees it, it was his own inexperience -- coupled with a recording schedule that put him alone in the studio with an assistant engineer -- that created the problem. (on the album ...And Justice for All)[2]
Questions
What bass did Jason Newsted use on One?
The sources on this page document Jason Newsted's gear on One by Metallica: bass, five‑string Wal [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.
What are the One settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?
For the One bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 3, Bass 0, Low Mid -2, High Mid +1, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 7, Bridge Volume (J) 6, Tone 8. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What are the One settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?
For the One bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set Bass 0, Midrange -1, Treble -1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 7, Bridge Volume (J) 5, Tone 5. Set Volume to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
Can I get the One 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 One, 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