How to Dial In "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors - Bass Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Riders on the Storm"
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.
Jerry Scheff plays a real Precision here, not Manzarek's keyboard bass — a warm, fully-fingerstyle line that walks and slides through the E-Dorian vamp instead of parking on roots. Round and soft-edged with no grit, mixed low and wide so it reads as atmosphere; play near the neck pickup with the tone backed off. The feel is the part: laid-back behind the beat, letting notes ring and decay under the Rhodes.
Common Questions About the "Riders on the Storm" Tone
What bass did The Doors use on "Riders on the Storm"?
The Doors tracked "Riders on the Storm" on a Precision Bass (released 1971). The Fender American Vintage II 1960 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 "Riders on the Storm" need?
On the original amp: Gain 2, Bass 6, 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 "Riders on the Storm" 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 "Riders on the Storm" 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 "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.