Paranoid (Black Sabbath) bass tone and bass amp settings
Paranoid bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: light drive (Drive 3.5), medium gain (Gain 6), forward low-mids (Low Mid 2), neck P pickup.
Settings for your amp
Paranoid 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
- 6
- Bright
- Off
- Contour
- Off
- Vintage
- On
- Overdrive
- On
- Drive
- 3.5
- Level
- 5
- Bass
- +1
- Low Mid
- +2
- High Mid
- +2
- Treble
- +1
- Master
- Set to your room
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 0
- Tone
- 7
Paranoid 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
- On
- Volume
- Set to your room
- Bass
- +1
- Midrange
- +2.5
- Treble
- +1.5
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 0
- Tone
- 7
Paranoid settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
Amp
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 6
- Drive
- 4
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 0
- Tone
- 6
Why it sounds like that
Geezer Butler played his second Precision Bass, a 1968 Fender, on Paranoid, and the same bass carried the rest of the Paranoid album and Master of Reality, including War Pigs, Iron Man and Sweet Leaf. He plays with his fingers rather than a pick.
- Play with your fingers rather than a pick.
What bass did Geezer Butler use on Paranoid?
Geezer Butler
- Bass
- 1968 Fender Precision Bass[1]
- Butler said the second P-Bass he ever had, a 1968 Fender Precision Bass, did the Paranoid album and Master of Reality. (on this song)[1]
- A Spin photo caption says Butler is holding the bass he used on the Paranoid and Master of Reality albums. (on the album Paranoid)[2]
- Butler said he plays bass with his fingers, as he saw Jack Bruce do, rather than a pick. (in a later era)[3]
Questions
What bass did Geezer Butler use on Paranoid?
The sources on this page document Geezer Butler's gear on Paranoid by Black Sabbath: bass, 1968 Fender Precision Bass [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.
What are the Paranoid settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?
For the Paranoid bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 6, Vintage On, Overdrive On, Drive 3.5, Level 5, Bass +1, Low Mid +2, High Mid +2, Treble +1; 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 Paranoid settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?
For the Paranoid bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set SGT On, Bass +1, Midrange +2.5, Treble +1.5; 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 Paranoid 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 Paranoid, 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