bass guitar from “enter sandman” by metallica | ToneDB
enter sandman
metallica
bass guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
Aggressive and punchy with a slightly overdriven edge. It delivers a solid foundation for the heavy rhythm and has a thick, powerful low end.
Gear
- Wal Custom Bassinstrument
- Reverb$13396Sweetwater
- SWR SM-400amp
- Reverb$375Sweetwater
- Tech 21 SansAmp PSA-1processing
- Reverb$337Sweetwater
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The Story
Jason Newsted's bass tone on 'Enter Sandman' was recorded using his Wal Custom Bass through an SWR SM-400 amp at One on One Studios in Los Angeles, with producer Bob Rock and engineer Randy Staub. The distinctive sound came from blending a direct signal with the amplified signal, while a Tech 21 SansAmp PSA-1 was used to add grit and overdrive character to create the aggressive, punchy foundation that drives the song's heavy rhythm.
Production Credits
Producer: Bob Rock
Engineer: Randy Staub
Recorded at: One on One Studios, Los Angeles
Signal Chain
Instrument: Wal Custom Bass
Amp: SWR SM-400
Processing: Tech 21 SansAmp PSA-1
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Wal bass or a bass with similar tonal characteristics (active electronics, punchy).
- Use an SWR SM-400 or a similar solid-state bass amp to get the clean but powerful sound.
- Incorporate a SansAmp PSA-1 or a similar amp modeling pedal/plugin to add grit and drive.
- Blend the direct signal with the amp signal for added clarity and punch.
- Use a compressor to tighten up the low end and add sustain.
Original Gear
- Wal Custom Bass(guitar)
- SWR SM-400(amp)
- Tech 21 SansAmp PSA-1(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Wal Custom Bass
Active electronics and punchy midrange response similar to the Wal's characteristics for aggressive metal tones
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: SWR SM-400
Solid-state design with clean headroom and punch that matches the SWR's powerful, clear low-end delivery
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Tech 21 SansAmp PSA-1
Direct descendant of the PSA-1 with the same SansAmp tube amp simulation and overdrive character
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: SWR SM-400 + SansAmp PSA-1 combination
Includes SansAmp-style processing and solid-state amp models with DI blending capabilities for the aggressive metal bass sound
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Wal Custom Bass
Active EMG pickups and similar aggressive midrange punch that cuts through heavy guitar mix like the Wal
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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