Phil Jones Bass Engine 17 Settings Resource
Dials, Suggestions, and Tone Tips
Note: These settings are approximate and subject to the rest of your gear, They're meant to be helpful, but not exclusive..
Amp Model: Phil Jones Bass Engine 17
Amp Type: Bass combo amp
Controls: Gain; Bass; Mid; Treble; Bluetooth; L+R Line-in; Headphone out; Effects loop
Phil Jones Bass Engine 17 Settings Suggestions
Bluesy Clean
Warm, articulate tone with smooth mids and gentle highs for expressive blues and classic rock playing. Light gain keeps things clean with a natural breakup when digging in.
- Gain: 3
- Bass: 6
- Mid: 7
- Treble: 5
- Bluetooth: 0
- L+R Line-in: 0
- Headphone Out: As needed
- Effects Loop: Off
Modern Pop/Funk
Tight low-end with scooped mids and boosted treble ideal for slap bass and dynamic pop or funk lines. Slight gain for extra presence and punch.
- Gain: 5
- Bass: 7
- Mid: 3
- Treble: 7
- Bluetooth: 0
- L+R Line-in: 0
- Headphone Out: As needed
- Effects Loop: Optional
Vintage Rock
Crunchy mid-forward tone with moderate gain for warm breakup and clarity. Perfect for classic rock riffs and throwback bass grooves.
- Gain: 6
- Bass: 5
- Mid: 7
- Treble: 6
- Bluetooth: 0
- L+R Line-in: 0
- Headphone Out: As needed
- Effects Loop: Optional for analog pedals
High Gain/Metal
Aggressive punch and sustain with thick low-end, focused mids, and sharp treble bite to cut through heavy mixes. High gain delivers saturated attack and presence.
- Gain: 8
- Bass: 8
- Mid: 5
- Treble: 7
- Bluetooth: 0
- L+R Line-in: 0
- Headphone Out: As needed
- Effects Loop: On for distortion or modulation
Studio Ready Flat Response
Transparent, balanced tone suited for direct-in recording or using with modelers. Flat EQ lets the instrument or outboard gear define the character.
- Gain: 4
- Bass: 5
- Mid: 5
- Treble: 5
- Bluetooth: 0
- L+R Line-in: 5 (if using external modelers)
- Headphone Out: As needed
- Effects Loop: Optional for outboard gear
Gear Suggestions for the Phil Jones Bass Engine 17
- Fender Precision Bass: Extremely well-suited to the Bass Engine 17’s flat frequency response and fast transient handling, offering classic, punchy tones with excellent clarity.
- Music Man StingRay: Active electronics and aggressive tone pair beautifully with the amp’s high-fidelity output, perfect for funk, rock, or modern pop styles.
- Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra: This preamp and distortion pedal adds tube-like growl and EQ shaping, ideal for tailoring tones for recordings or live settings with the transparent nature of the Bass Engine 17.
- Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI: Adds warmth and amp-like color to the clean character of the Phil Jones amp while offering flexible DI/output options for studio or stage use.
- Boss OC-5 Octave Pedal: Tracks cleanly and expands low-end richness through the Bass Engine’s full-range, high-headroom design—great for solo or ambient textures.
More Tone Tips and Best Practices
- Store in a dry, temperature-controlled environment away from direct sunlight.
- Keep ventilation areas clear to prevent overheating during use.
- Ideal master volume is below 70% for clean tone and component longevity.
- Use passive EQ settings for flat response; adjust bass/mid/treble for room compensation.
- Pair with a DI box if using in larger live settings to support FOH audio routing.
- Designed primarily for practice, but suitable for small ensemble gigs and recording.
- Avoid using on uneven surfaces to maintain speaker alignment and prevent cabinet vibration.
- Mute input or turn volume down before powering on/off to avoid speaker pops.
- Regularly inspect power and instrument cables for wear to avoid signal loss or shorts.
More Amp and Tone Settings Resources
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Amp Settings
Written by Guitar Chalk on Song Settings
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