How to Dial In "Santeria" by Sublime - Bass Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Santeria"
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.
Eric Wilson's fingerstyle Jazz-bass line on a Jazz Bass in standard tuning — fat and reggae-round underneath, but with enough midrange and note attack that the melodic movement stays legible against the clean guitar. Notes are damped fairly short in the verses and open up slightly in the chorus. The part is lifted from Sublime's own earlier 'Lincoln Highway Dub', and the feel is the point: laid back, dead on the beat, never busy.
Common Questions About the "Santeria" Tone
What bass did Sublime use on "Santeria"?
Sublime tracked "Santeria" on a Jazz Bass (released 1996). The Fender American Professional II Jazz Bass named above is a modern equivalent, not the bass on the record. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the bass. Tuned to standard (bass) (E A D G).
What amp settings does "Santeria" need?
On Ampeg SVT Classic + 8x10: Gain 3, Bass 7, Mid 5, Treble 4, Presence 3, 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 "Santeria" 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 "Santeria" 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 "Santeria" by Sublime are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.