Adam Yauch

In this photo, you can see MCA using his 1990's GK 800RB bass amp head on top of a vintage Peavey 3620 bass cabinet.

In this photo, you can see MCA using his 1990's GK 800RB bass amp head on top of a vintage Peavey 3620 bass cabinet.

Yauch's bass tone on Sabotage manages to be huge without being so overtly driven or drenched in gain. To achieve his signature bass tone, producer Mario Caldato Jr. explains that Yauch played a 60's Fender Jazz bass through an Acoustic 270 Graphic EQ head. The amp was put into an isolated sound proofed case when recorded, with the bass running through a Black Cat Superfuzz pedal. The Black Cat Superfuzz is modeled after the highly coveted 70's Japanese made Univox Superfuzz. What was special about those Univox Superfuzzes was their "two stage octave doubling circuit." From the Black Cat site: "beneath the massive torrent of fuzz is a hint of upper octave; not quite as prominent as an Octavia, but definitely noticeable." That double octave is what helped Yauch achieve such a massive sound on the record.

In a live performance photo, Adam Yauch is seen using a plexi Ampeg SVT-VR bass amplifier head.

In this studio pic you can see Adam using an Ampeg bass into a Univox Superfuzz, a SVT-II and an 8x10

In this pic you see Adam in a recording session using an Ampeg Bass into a superfuzz, SVT-II and an Ampeg 8x1-0