How to Dial In "The Girl from Ipanema" by Stan Getz & João Gilberto - Bass Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "The Girl from Ipanema"
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 are the numbers on the record. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their bass configured for this take.
Sebastião Neto on acoustic double bass, miked at A&R Studios in New York — soft, round, felt more than heard. The part is almost entirely root and fifth in a two-feel, one note per half bar, sitting dead centre with the pandeiro. Bossa nova bass never rushes and never walks; resist every instinct to add a passing note, and let the note decay rather than damping it.
Common Questions About the "The Girl from Ipanema" Tone
What bass did Stan Getz & João Gilberto use on "The Girl from Ipanema"?
Stan Getz & João Gilberto recorded "The Girl from Ipanema" (released 1964) before the NS Design CR Series CR4 Electric Upright came out; it is named above as a modern equivalent. Tuned to standard (bass) (E A D G).
What amp settings does "The Girl from Ipanema" need?
On the original amp: Gain 1, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 3, Presence 2, Volume 4. 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 "The Girl from Ipanema" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Girl from Ipanema" 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 "The Girl from Ipanema" by Stan Getz & João Gilberto are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.