What bass guitar was used on Papa Was a Rollin' Stone?

A Fender Precision Bass was used for the recording. The P-Bass was the go-to bass for most Motown recordings during this era, providing the punchy, fundamental tone that became synonymous with the Motown sound.

How to get the Papa Was a Rollin' Stone bass tone?

Use a Fender Precision Bass through an Ampeg B-15 tube amp, with a blend of direct input and mic'd amplifier signals. The key is achieving warm tube saturation while maintaining clarity through the direct signal blend.

What amp was used for Papa Was a Rollin' Stone bass?

An Ampeg B-15 tube amplifier was used for the recording. This amp was a studio standard that provided warm, natural compression and the slight tube overdrive that gives the bass its punchy character.

What microphone recorded the bass on Papa Was a Rollin' Stone?

A Neumann U47 was used to capture the bass cabinet. This large-diaphragm tube condenser microphone added warmth and fullness to the overall bass sound when blended with the direct signal.

How was Papa Was a Rollin' Stone bass recorded?

The bass was recorded using a combination of direct input signal and a mic'd amplifier cabinet at Hitsville U.S.A. This blend captured both the clarity of the direct signal and the warm, resonant character of the tube amp through the room.

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Tone Profile

A deep, resonant, and slightly overdriven bass tone that provides a solid foundation for the song's groove. The sound is warm and punchy, with a touch of grit that helps it cut through the mix.

Shop This Rig

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Fender Precision Bass(instrument)
Ampeg B-15(amp)
Neumann U47(microphone)

The Story

"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was recorded at Hitsville U.S.A. (Motown Studios) in Detroit, with Norman Whitfield producing and Cal Harris engineering. The bass tone was achieved using a Fender Precision Bass through an Ampeg B-15 tube amp, captured with a Neumann U47 microphone. The recording likely used a blend of direct input signal and the mic'd amplifier to achieve both clarity and the warm, punchy character that cuts through the dense mix.

Production Credits

Producer: Norman Whitfield

Engineer: Cal Harris

Recorded at: Hitsville U.S.A. (Motown Studios), Detroit, MI

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Precision BassShop on Reverb

Amp: Ampeg B-15Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U47Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Fender Precision Bass and an Ampeg B-15 or similar tube amp.
Blend a direct input signal with a mic'd amp signal to achieve a balanced tone.
Use a Neumann U47 or similar large-diaphragm condenser microphone for a warm and full sound.
Add subtle overdrive to give the bass a bit of grit and presence.

Original Gear

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Fender Precision BassShop on Reverb(guitar)
Ampeg B-15Shop on Reverb(amp)
Neumann U47Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Squier Classic Vibe '60s Precision BassShop on Reverb$400-$450

Alternative to: Fender Precision Bass

Delivers the fundamental P-Bass split-coil pickup tone with vintage-voiced pickups that capture the warmth and punch of the original

Ampeg PF-20T PortaflexShop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Ampeg B-15

Modern tube amp that recreates the warm, slightly compressed tone of the vintage B-15 with similar tube saturation characteristics

Warm Audio WA-47Shop on Reverb$900-$1000

Alternative to: Neumann U47

Faithful recreation of the U47's warm, full-bodied character that captures the round bass cabinet tone without harshness

Plugin Alliance Ampeg SVT-VRPlugin Boutique$150-$200

Alternative to: Ampeg B-15

Authentic Ampeg tube amp modeling that captures the vintage warmth and natural compression for direct recording setups

Fender Player Precision BassShop on Reverb$800-$900