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Something (The Beatles) bass tone and bass amp settings

Something bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 3.5), balanced lows (Bass 1), even low-mids (Low Mid 1), both pickups.

Tuning: E standard

Settings for your amp

Pick a reference amp

Something settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3

Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every song

AmpFender Rumble 40 V3

Gain3.5
BrightOff
ContourOff
VintageOn
OverdriveOff
Bass+1
Low Mid+1
High Mid+1
Treble+0.5
Set to your roomMaster

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)7Blended in for body and rounded low mids.
Bridge Volume (J)9Favored for the reported Rickenbacker’s articulation.
Tone7.5
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
3.5
Bright
Off
Contour
Off
Vintage
On
Overdrive
Off
Bass
+1
Low Mid
+1
High Mid
+1
Treble
+0.5
Master
Set to your room

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
7
Bridge Volume (J)
9
Tone
7.5

Something 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
Bass0
Midrange+1
Treble0

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)8Keeps the low mids full in the pickup blend
Bridge Volume (J)6Adds definition without making the blend too bright
Tone7.5
The same settings in text

Amp

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

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
8
Bridge Volume (J)
6
Tone
7.5

Something settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive

Amp

Bass5
Mid6
Treble5
Drive1

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)8Emphasizes a round, full foundation.
Bridge Volume (J)5Adds definition without making the blend too sharp.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Bass
5
Mid
6
Treble
5
Drive
1

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
8
Bridge Volume (J)
5
Tone
7
The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

Paul McCartney's bass on Something moves in smooth counterpoint to the vocal rather than competing with it. The part is busy through the verses, with crescendos and a mix of rhythmic values. It was recorded DI as an overdub, on either his '65 Rickenbacker 4001S or a Fender Jazz Bass.

  • Stay mostly on the upper strings, around the 5th and 7th positions, for a fuller sound and less shifting.
  • Look for the different ways the bass arpeggiates the D and D7 chords, and outline the A triad before the bridge.

What bass did Paul McCartney use on Something?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

Paul McCartney

Bass
Rickenbacker 4001S[1]
  • Emerick said Paul started playing a bassline that was a little elaborate. (on this song)[1]
  • Verse: Bass Musician Magazine says the bass line is busy during the verses, with an orchestral quality. (on this song)[2]
  • Verse: Bass Musician Magazine says the verse bass has crescendos through the 16th notes on beat 2 of the C and C7 chords. (on this song)[2]
  • Verse: Bass Musician Magazine says McCartney mixes dotted quarters, quarters, eighths and sixteenths in the verses. (on this song)[2]
  • Guitar World says McCartney plays most of the song on the upper strings, around the 5th and 7th positions, for a fuller sound. (on this song)[1]
  • Guitar World says McCartney arpeggiates the D and D7 chords in different ways and outlines an A triad before the bridge. (on this song)[1]
  • Guitar World says McCartney pedals on A and walks up chromatically to F before the final turnaround. (on this song)[1]
  • Guitar World says McCartney's bass lines move in smooth counterpoint to the vocal, especially on Something. (on this song)[3]
  • Guitar World says a Fender VI and a Jazz Bass were reportedly used on the Abbey Road sessions. (on the album Abbey Road)[3]
  • Bass Musician Magazine says McCartney played a Rickenbacker 4001S and a Fender Jazz Bass during the Abbey Road sessions. (on the album Abbey Road)[2]
  • Guitar World says McCartney used a '65 Rickenbacker 4001S on Something. (on this song)[1]
  • Bass Musician Magazine says the bass on Something was recorded DI as an overdub and is most likely the Jazz Bass. (on this song)[2]
  • Accounts differ: Guitar World names a Rickenbacker 4001S on Something, while Bass Musician Magazine says the Jazz Bass is most likely. (on this song)[1][2]
  • Guitar World reports: ‘But when it came to record Something for 1969's Abbey Road, Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick reported that Paul was told to rein things in a bit.’ (on this song)[1]

Questions

What bass did Paul McCartney use on Something?

The sources on this page document Paul McCartney's gear on Something by The Beatles: bass, Rickenbacker 4001S [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the Something settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?

For the Something bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 3.5, Vintage On, Bass +1, Low Mid +1, High Mid +1, Treble +0.5; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 7, Bridge Volume (J) 9, Tone 7.5. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Something settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?

For the Something bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set Bass 0, Midrange +1, Treble 0; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 8, Bridge Volume (J) 6, Tone 7.5. Set Volume to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What tuning is Something in?

Something by The Beatles is played in E standard, according to the cited source [1]. Tune to it before you set the amp, or the riff will not sit right against the record.

Can I get the Something 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 Something, 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