How does the metal godfather sound when he makes his farewell bow? Not only was Geezer Butler’s bass setup at Black Sabbath’s final performance strong, it was legendary. Learn about the equipment that shook the stage one final time and drove decades of dread.

How the Metal Godfather Sounded One Last Time: Inside Geezer Butler’s Legendary Bass Setup at Black Sabbath’s Final Show

When a band that practically invented heavy metal plays its final note, the world listens—and it listens hard. On July 5, at Black Sabbath’s historic farewell concert, “Back to the Beginning,” fans didn’t just witness the end of an era—they feltit, in their chests and bones, courtesy of one man: Geezer Butler.

The low-end thunder that has driven decades of darkness didn’t disappoint. In fact, it roared with such power and clarity that it may go down as the most iconic bass tone ever heard on a live stage. So how exactly did the metal godfather of bass sound on his final bow? Let’s dive into the gear that shook Villa Park to its foundations.

A Setup Worthy of the End Times

For this final performance, Butler didn’t reinvent the wheel—he perfected it. Staying true to the tone that defined Sabbath’s gritty, doomy aesthetic, Geezer rolled out a rig designed for both nostalgia and annihilation.

Here’s what made it special:

Bass Guitar: Lakland Signature Series Geezer Butler Precision Bass

At the heart of the tone was Butler’s Lakland signature model. Inspired by vintage P-style basses but customized for maximum output, this axe delivers a blend of warmth, growl, and relentless punch. Outfitted with EMG GZR-P pickups—crafted specifically to replicate Geezer’s 1970s Sabbath tone—it gave fans exactly what they came for.

Amps: Ashdown ABM-600 EVO IV Heads + 8×10 Cabinets

Butler powered his sound through Ashdown amps, known for their meaty mids and solid low-end punch. Running two ABM-600 EVO IV heads into stacked 8×10 cabinets, he achieved a wall of sound that made even the rafters at Villa Park tremble. The EQ was dialed in with a slight boost in the lows and low-mids, keeping that classic sludge intact while preserving clarity.

Pedals & Effects: Less is More

Butler has always kept effects minimal. For the farewell show, his pedalboard featured his tried-and-true:

• Dunlop Wah (used subtly for dynamic emphasis)

• Boss EQ Pedal for precise tone shaping

• SansAmp Bass Driver DI for gritty preamp flavor

He let his fingers—and four decades of mastery—do most of the talking.

The Sound of Dread, Refined

From the first haunting notes of “War Pigs” to the crushing finale of “Paranoid,” Butler’s tone was the sonic backbone. It wasn’t just heavy—it was alive, responding with growls, snarls, and thunderous resonance that reminded everyone why Geezer is more than a bassist—he’s an architect of atmosphere.

Whether you were in the stadium or one of the 5.8 million viewers watching online, you couldn’t miss the presence of that bass. It didn’t just support the music—it drove it like an unstoppable machine forged in Birmingham steel.

A Fitting Farewell for Metal’s Greatest Low-End Legend

This wasn’t just the end of Black Sabbath—it was the end of an era. But true to form, Geezer Butler didn’t go quietly. He went out with the exact same force and finesse that made Sabbath’s debut in 1970 feel like the birth of something dangerous and new.

As Ozzy bowed and fans wiped away tears, the last booming notes of Geezer’s bass echoed into the night. It wasn’t just a goodbye—it was a reminder: metal begins and ends with the riff… and the rumble beneath it.

And no one rumbled quite like Geezer.

Want more gear breakdowns from the farewell concert? Stay tuned as we dissect Tony Iommi’s final rig and the surprise setup used by Bill Ward during his thunderous return.