bass guitar from “killing in the name” by rage against the machine | ToneDB
killing in the name
rage against the machine
bass guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
Aggressive and distorted bass tone with a strong fundamental and biting high-end. The sound is very present and cuts through the mix, providing a powerful foundation for the song.
Gear
- Music Man StingRayinstrument
- Reverb$2199Sweetwater
- Ampeg SVT-VRamp
- Reverb$420Sweetwater
- Shure SM57microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- Pro Co Ratprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
Tim Commerford's bass tone on "Killing in the Name" was created using a Music Man StingRay bass run through a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal into an Ampeg SVT amplifier. The signal was captured using a Shure SM57 microphone positioned close to the speaker cone. This combination of the StingRay's punchy output, the RAT's aggressive distortion, and the SVT's powerful low-end created the signature biting, present bass sound that cuts through RATM's heavy mix.
Production Credits
Producer: Garth Richardson
Engineer: Stan Katayama
Recorded at: Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA
Signal Chain
Instrument: Music Man StingRay
Amp: Ampeg SVT-VR
Microphone: Shure SM57
Processing: Pro Co Rat
Recreation Tips
- Start with a StingRay bass and an Ampeg SVT.
- Use a Pro Co Rat to dial in the distortion.
- Experiment with the Rat's filter knob to shape the tone.
- Use a Shure SM57 close to the speaker cone.
- Play with aggressive fingerstyle to bring out the attack.
Original Gear
- Music Man StingRay(guitar)
- Ampeg SVT-VR(amp)
- Pro Co Rat(pedal)
- Shure SM57(mic)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Music Man StingRay bass
Budget version of the StingRay with similar active electronics and punchy output that works well with distortion
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Pro Co RAT distortion pedal
Current production version of the same pedal Commerford used, providing identical aggressive distortion characteristics
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Ampeg SVT amplifier
Modern Class D version of the SVT that maintains the classic Ampeg tone in a lighter, more affordable package
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Ampeg SVT amplifier
High-quality bass amp simulation that can recreate aggressive tube-style distortion with precise control over tone shaping
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Shure SM57 microphone
Same microphone model still in production, perfect for capturing the aggressive midrange bite of distorted bass amps
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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