How to Dial In "Something" by The Beatles - Bass Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Something"
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 a Bassman. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their bass configured for this take.
McCartney's countermelody, overdubbed after the fact so it behaves like a second lead voice rather than a foundation — long sliding runs up around the 7th-12th frets, warm and round with flatwound-style thud and almost no top-end bite. Play it fingerstyle over the neck pickup and let notes ring into each other; the phrasing has to breathe with the vocal, so the timing of the slides matters more than the notes.
Common Questions About the "Something" Tone
What bass did The Beatles use on "Something"?
The Beatles tracked "Something" on a Rickenbacker 4001 (released 1969). Pickup selector: neck pickup on the bass. Tuned to standard (bass) (E A D G).
What amp settings does "Something" need?
On a Bassman: Gain 2, Bass 6, Mid 6, 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 "Something" without a Bassman?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Something" 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 "Something" by The Beatles are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.