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bass guitar from “don't stop me now” by queen | ToneDB

don't stop me now

queen

bass guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Aggressive and punchy bass tone with a slightly overdriven character that provides a strong foundation for the song's energy.

Gear

Fender Precision Bassinstrument
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Ampeg SVTamp
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Neumann U47microphone
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The Story

John Deacon recorded the bass for "Don't Stop Me Now" at Mountain Studios in Montreux using his Fender Precision Bass through an Ampeg SVT. The sound was captured with a blend of direct input and a miked amplifier, likely using a Neumann U47 microphone positioned a few feet from the cabinet. This dual-source approach gave the bass both clarity and the punchy, slightly overdriven character that drives the song's energy.

Production Credits

Producer: Queen

Engineer: Mike Stone

Recorded at: Mountain Studios, Montreux

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Precision Bass

Amp: Ampeg SVT

Microphone: Neumann U47

Recreation Tips

  • Use a Fender Precision Bass or similar instrument with flatwound strings.
  • Set the Ampeg SVT or a similar bass amp model to a slightly overdriven setting.
  • Blend a direct input signal with the miked amp signal to achieve clarity and punch.
  • Use a compressor plugin to even out the dynamics and add sustain.

Original Gear

  • Fender Precision Bass(guitar)
  • Ampeg SVT(amp)
  • Neumann U47(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass$400-$450

Alternative to: Fender Precision Bass

Budget-friendly P-bass with similar pickup configuration and tone to capture Deacon's fundamental sound

ReverbSweetwater
Ampeg SVT-7PRO$1,200-$1,400

Alternative to: Ampeg SVT

Modern SVT head that delivers the classic tube-like warmth and slight overdrive character of the original

ReverbSweetwater
Neural DSP Darkglass Ultra$130-$150

Alternative to: Ampeg SVT

Plugin offering accurate SVT modeling with built-in DI blending for home recording without the massive amp

ReverbSweetwater
Radial JDI Passive Direct Box$160-$180

Alternative to: Direct Input blend

High-quality DI for capturing the clean direct signal that can be blended with the amp sound

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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