What bass guitar did UB40 use on Red Red Wine?

UB40 used a Fender Precision Bass on "Red Red Wine." The P-Bass provided the warm, punchy tone that became a signature element of their reggae sound.

How to get UB40 bass tone on Red Red Wine?

Start with a Fender Precision Bass with flatwound strings, run it through an Ampeg SVT amp with balanced EQ and slight low-mid boost. Use minimal effects to maintain the clean, natural character of the bass.

What amp did UB40 use for bass recording?

UB40 used an Ampeg SVT amplifier for the bass sound on "Red Red Wine." The SVT's tube warmth and natural compression contributed to the song's characteristic low-end foundation.

What studio recorded UB40 Red Red Wine?

"Red Red Wine" was recorded at DEP International Studio in Birmingham. The bass was captured using an AKG D12 microphone placed close to the amplifier speaker.

Should I use flatwound strings for reggae bass tone?

Yes, flatwound strings are recommended for authentic reggae bass tones like UB40's "Red Red Wine." They provide the warm, round sound with reduced finger noise that's characteristic of the genre.

bass guitar from "red red wine" by ub40

red red wine

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Tone Profile

Warm, clean, and reggae-infused bass tone with a round low-end and defined mid-range, providing a solid foundation for the song. It's a classic, understated bass sound perfect for reggae.

Shop This Rig

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Fender Precision Bass(instrument)
Ampeg SVT(amp)
AKG D12(microphone)

The Story

The bass tone on UB40's "Red Red Wine" was recorded using a Fender Precision Bass through an Ampeg SVT amplifier at DEP International Studio in Birmingham. The bass was tracked using an AKG D12 microphone, capturing the warm, round sound that became characteristic of UB40's reggae style.

Production Credits

Producer: Unknown

Engineer: Ray 'Pablo' Falconer

Recorded at: DEP International Studio, Birmingham

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Precision BassShop on Reverb

Amp: Ampeg SVTShop on Reverb

Microphone: AKG D12Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Fender Precision Bass and flatwound strings for a round, warm tone.
Use an Ampeg SVT amplifier (or a plugin emulation) as a foundation for your bass sound.
Set the amp's EQ for a balanced tone with a slight boost in the low-mids to add warmth and punch.
Record the amp with a microphone like an AKG D12, positioning it a few inches from the speaker cone.
In the mix, use gentle compression to even out the dynamics and ensure the bass sits well in the track.
Avoid excessive processing or effects to maintain the clean and natural character of the bass.

Original Gear

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Fender Precision BassShop on Reverb(guitar)
Ampeg SVTShop on Reverb(amp)
AKG D12Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Fender Player Precision BassShop on Reverb$700-$800

Alternative to: Fender Precision Bass

Maintains the classic P-Bass pickup configuration and tone that creates the warm, punchy foundation heard on the track

Ampeg SVT-CL ClassicShop on Reverb$2,000-$2,500

Alternative to: Ampeg SVT

Current production version of the classic all-tube SVT that delivers the same warm, powerful low-end response

Neural DSP Parallax BassPlugin Boutique$100-$120

Alternative to: Ampeg SVT

Includes accurate Ampeg SVT modeling for the classic tube warmth and compression in a digital format

AKG D112Shop on Reverb$150-$200

Alternative to: AKG D12

Modern evolution of the D12 with similar frequency response, designed specifically for bass drum and bass amplifier recording

Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision BassShop on Reverb$400-$500