What bass did Mike Dirnt use on Longview?

Mike Dirnt used a Fender Precision Bass on "Longview." The P-Bass's split-coil pickup design provides the punchy midrange growl that's characteristic of the song's bass tone.

How to get Green Day Longview bass tone?

Use a Fender Precision Bass through an Ampeg SVT amp with some overdrive from the amp's gain settings. Record both a direct input signal and a miked amp cabinet, then blend them together for clarity and punch.

What amp was used on Green Day Dookie album?

An Ampeg SVT amplifier was used for the bass tones on Green Day's Dookie album, including "Longview." The SVT's tube-driven distortion was key to achieving the gritty punk rock bass sound.

Where was Green Day Longview recorded?

"Longview" was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California with producer Rob Cavallo and engineer Ken Allardyce. This was during the sessions for Green Day's major label debut album Dookie.

What microphone was used to record Longview bass?

An AKG D112 microphone was used to capture the bass cabinet sound on "Longview." This dynamic mic is specifically designed for low-frequency sources like bass amps and kick drums.

bass guitar from "longview" by green day

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Tone Profile

A distorted bass tone with a gritty edge, providing a solid foundation for the song. The sound is raw and punchy, fitting the band's punk rock energy.

Shop This Rig

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Fender Precision Bass(instrument)
Ampeg SVT(amp)
AKG D112(microphone)

The Story

Mike Dirnt's bass tone on "Longview" was recorded at Fantasy Studios with producer Rob Cavallo, using a Fender Precision Bass through an Ampeg SVT amp. The recording combined both a direct input signal and a miked amplifier cabinet using an AKG D112 microphone to capture the gritty, distorted punk rock sound that became iconic on Green Day's breakthrough album Dookie.

Production Credits

Producer: Rob Cavallo

Engineer: Ken Allardyce

Recorded at: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Precision BassShop on Reverb

Amp: Ampeg SVTShop on Reverb

Microphone: AKG D112Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Fender Precision Bass and an Ampeg SVT amplifier.
Experiment with the gain settings on the amp to achieve the desired level of distortion.
Use an AKG D112 or similar microphone to capture the sound of the cabinet.
Blend the direct input signal with the miked amp signal to taste.

Original Gear

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Fender Precision BassShop on Reverb(guitar)
Ampeg SVTShop on Reverb(amp)
AKG D112Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Squier Classic Vibe '60s Precision BassShop on Reverb$400-$450

Alternative to: Fender Precision Bass

Delivers the essential P-Bass punch and midrange growl at a budget-friendly price point

Ampeg SVT-7PROShop on Reverb$800-$900

Alternative to: Ampeg SVT

Modern Class-D version of the SVT maintains the classic tube-driven distortion and punch in a more portable package

Neural DSP Darkglass UltraPlugin Boutique$80-$100

Alternative to: Ampeg SVT

Provides high-quality amp modeling with the ability to blend DI and amp signals, perfect for capturing that Dookie-era bass tone

AKG D112 mkIIShop on Reverb$200-$250

Alternative to: AKG D112

Updated version of the exact microphone used on the original recording, designed specifically for bass drums and bass amps

Fender Player Precision BassShop on Reverb$800-$900