How to Dial In "Blue Monday" by New Order - Bass Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Blue Monday"
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 SVT Classic + 8x10. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their bass configured for this take.
The low throb you hear is not a bass guitar — it is a Moog Source line step-sequenced on Bernard Sumner's home-built Powertran. Peter Hook's actual bass is the bright, chorused melodic lead that enters high above it, credited on the record as six-string bass and played on his Shergold Marathon (E-A-D-G-B-E, an octave below guitar). Almost no low end, heavy chorus, bridge-pickup attack, played way up the neck like a lead instrument — on a standard four-string the same part sits from the 12th fret upward.
Common Questions About the "Blue Monday" Tone
What bass did New Order use on "Blue Monday"?
New Order tracked "Blue Monday" on a Bass VI (released 1983). The Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI named above is a modern equivalent, not the bass on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the bass. The track is in Custom tuning, so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Blue Monday" need?
On Ampeg SVT Classic + 8x10: Gain 3, Bass 3, Mid 6, Treble 8, Presence 7, 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 "Blue Monday" without an Ampeg SVT Classic + 8x10?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Blue Monday" 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.
What pedals are on "Blue Monday"?
The original signal chain for "Blue Monday" runs through Electro-Harmonix Small Clone. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Blue Monday" by New Order are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.