What bass did Cliff Burton use on Orion?

Cliff Burton used an Alembic Series I or II bass guitar on "Orion." These basses featured active electronics and were known for their exceptional clarity and articulation, which allowed Burton's complex bass lines to cut through Metallica's heavy guitar mix.

How to get Cliff Burton's bass tone on Orion?

Start with a bass that has active electronics for clarity, run it through an Ampeg SVT or similar tube amp, and add aggressive distortion with a RAT pedal or similar. Scoop the mids slightly and use compression to enhance sustain and even out dynamics.

What amp did Cliff Burton use on Master of Puppets?

Cliff Burton used an Ampeg SVT amplifier during the recording of Master of Puppets, including on "Orion." The SVT provided the clean, powerful foundation that he then colored with his modified Pro Co RAT distortion pedal.

What distortion pedal did Cliff Burton use?

Cliff Burton used a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal that was modified by Craig Calhoun to his specifications. The modifications gave him a more aggressive and tailored distortion sound that became a key part of his signature bass tone.

Why does Cliff Burton's bass sound so clear on Orion?

The clarity comes from his Alembic bass guitar's active electronics and high-quality construction, combined with the clean power of the Ampeg SVT amp. The scooped midrange EQ also helped create space in the mix for his bass lines to be clearly heard alongside the guitars.

bass guitar from "orion" by metallica

orion

metallica

bass guitar

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A scooped mid, aggressive, and articulate bass tone with a clear high-end presence, providing a solid foundation for the song's intricate instrumental arrangement. The tone is both powerful and precise, allowing for the complex bass lines to cut through the mix.

Shop This Rig

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Alembic Series I/II(instrument)
Ampeg SVT(amp)
Pro Co RAT(processing)

The Story

Cliff Burton's bass tone on "Orion" was built around his Alembic Series I or II bass guitar, which featured active electronics that provided the clarity and articulation heard on the track. He ran through an Ampeg SVT amplifier and used a modified Pro Co RAT distortion pedal that was customized by Craig Calhoun to his specifications. The combination of the Alembic's high-end clarity and the modified RAT's aggressive distortion created the signature scooped, powerful tone that cuts through Metallica's dense guitar mix.

Production Credits

Producer: Flemming Rasmussen

Engineer: Flemming Rasmussen

Recorded at: Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen

Signal Chain

Instrument: Alembic Series I/IIShop on Reverb

Amp: Ampeg SVTShop on Reverb

Processing: Pro Co RATShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with an Alembic-style bass or any bass with active electronics to get a similar clarity.
Use an Ampeg SVT model known for its clean punch, then add a distortion pedal with a wide range of gain.
Scoop the mids slightly on the amp or with an EQ plugin to create space for the guitar frequencies.
Use a compressor to even out the dynamics and enhance sustain.

Original Gear

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Substitutions & Recommendations

Cort A5 Plus FMMHShop on Reverb$800-$900

Alternative to: Alembic Series I/II bass

Active electronics and through-neck construction provide similar clarity and sustain to the Alembic, with excellent high-end articulation for complex bass lines

Ampeg SVT-CL ClassicShop on Reverb$2200-$2500

Alternative to: Ampeg SVT amplifier

Modern reissue of the classic SVT circuit that provides the same powerful clean foundation and midrange punch Burton used

Darkglass Alpha OmicronShop on Reverb$250-$280

Alternative to: Modified Pro Co RAT pedal

Provides similar aggressive distortion character with blend control to maintain low-end clarity like Burton's modified RAT

Neural DSP Darkglass Ultra PluginPlugin Boutique$100-$120

Alternative to: Pro Co RAT distortion

Digital modeling of aggressive bass distortion tones with precise EQ control to recreate the scooped midrange character

Spector NS Dimension 4Shop on Reverb$2000-$2200

Alternative to: Alembic Series bass

Active EMG pickups and through-neck design deliver similar clarity and aggressive tone characteristics to Burton's Alembic

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!

TONEDB...

bass guitar from “orion” by metallica | ToneDB