bass guitar from “folsom prison blues” by johnny cash | ToneDB
folsom prison blues
johnny cash
bass guitar
Tone Profile
Upright bass provides a warm, fundamental tone with a slight percussive attack. The sound is clean and present, laying the foundation for the track.
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The Story
"Folsom Prison Blues" features a Kay upright bass recorded live at Sun Studio with minimal processing. The natural, woody tone of the upright bass was captured with simple microphone placement, providing the warm foundational sound characteristic of early country and rockabilly recordings.
Production Credits
Producer: Sam Phillips
Engineer: Jack Clement
Recorded at: Sun Studio, Memphis, TN
Signal Chain
Instrument: Kay Upright BassShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Use an upright bass guitar for the most authentic sound.
- Experiment with microphone placement to capture the desired balance of warmth and attack.
- Avoid excessive processing to maintain the natural character of the instrument.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Kay Upright Bass
Provides the upright bass feel and tone in a more practical electric format, perfect for recreating vintage country bass lines
Alternative to: Neumann U47 microphone
Tube condenser that captures the warm, vintage character needed for authentic upright bass recording
Alternative to: Kay Upright Bass
Acoustic bass guitar that delivers similar fundamental warmth and woody tone when played with fingerstyle technique
Alternative to: Sun Studio recording chain
Includes vintage tube preamp modeling that recreates the warm, minimal processing sound of 1950s recordings
Alternative to: Kay Upright Bass
Professional electric upright that maintains authentic bowing and fingering technique while offering recording flexibility
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