Tone Profile

Warm, round, and subtly distorted Motown bass tone that provides a solid foundation for the track. The bass sound is smooth and supportive, with a touch of vintage character.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• James Jamerson, the bassist, often played with flatwound strings, contributing to the warm and mellow tone.
• The Ampeg B-15 was a studio standard for bass recording during the Motown era, known for its smooth and controlled sound.
• The bass was likely recorded direct or with minimal processing to capture the natural sound of the instrument and amplifier.

Recreation Tips

• Use a Fender Precision Bass with flatwound strings to capture the original bass.
• Consider using an Ampeg B-15 or a similar vintage bass amp to replicate the amp tone. Alternatively, use an amp modeling plugin that emulates the B-15.
• Record direct or use a microphone placed close to the speaker to capture the amp's sound.
• Apply a touch of compression to even out the dynamics and add a subtle warmth using a plugin like the LA-2A.
• EQ the bass to emphasize the low-mids for a full and rounded sound, while gently rolling off any harsh high frequencies.

Recommended Gear

• Fender Precision Bass(guitar)
• Ampeg B-15(amp)
• LA-2A(compressor)