How to Dial In "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse - Bass Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Rehab"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for an Ampeg B-15N Portaflex. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their bass configured for this take.
A deliberate 1960s Motown pastiche: Precision with flatwounds, tone rolled well down, right hand plucking one-finger style over the end of the fingerboard and palm-muting so every note is a short round thump. The line walks and answers the horns rather than sitting on roots, and the whole band was cut live to tape at Daptone, so the bass has to push and pull with the drums rather than lock to a click. Do not add brightness — the dullness is the point.
Common Questions About the "Rehab" Tone
What bass did Amy Winehouse use on "Rehab"?
Amy Winehouse tracked "Rehab" on a Precision Bass (released 2006). The Fender Vintera II '60s Precision Bass named above is a modern equivalent, not the bass on the record. Pickup selector: single pickup on the bass. Tuned to standard (bass) (E A D G).
What amp settings does "Rehab" need?
On Ampeg B-15N Portaflex: Gain 2, Bass 7, Mid 6, Treble 3, Presence 2, Volume 6. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Rehab" without an Ampeg B-15N Portaflex?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Rehab" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.