Question on MFD pickups.

[carlos840]

Hey all,
So i got this G&L SB2 a few months ago and the jazz pickup was dead, i changed it and it seams to be really thin and aggressive sounding.
I know its not ment to be soloed and everything but im wondering if its the way i set it up thats the cause of the problem.
I didnt raise the poles on it at all, just raised all the pickup really close to the strings to get max output and it sounds really bright and clear but doesnt have much low end.
Would lowering the pickup and raising the poles a bit make any difference or is this just the way its supposed to sound.

By the way i love this bass, i dont know how i lived without an SB2 before, now my jazz bass seams flat and dead compared to the raw power of this beast!

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by carlos840

Hey all,
So i got this G&L SB2 a few months ago and the jazz pickup was dead, i changed it and it seams to be really thin and aggressive sounding.
I know its not ment to be soloed and everything but im wondering if its the way i set it up thats the cause of the problem.
I didnt raise the poles on it at all, just raised all the pickup really close to the strings to get max output and it sounds really bright and clear but doesnt have much low end.

Would lowering the pickup and raising the poles a bit make any difference or is this just the way its supposed to sound.

Lowering the pickup and raising the poles will make no real difference. Just set the pickup at a height that works for you and then use the pole pieces to adjust individual string volumes. That's what they're designed for.

The SB-2 has no obvious onboard EQ. The reality is that the bridge pickup can be dialed in to approximate the effect. Set the neck pickup volume to 80% or so and bring in the bridge to taste - usually a tad less than the neck.

By the way i love this bass, i dont know how i lived without an SB2 before, now my jazz bass seams flat and dead compared to the raw power of this beast!

Beast is about right. This ain't your grandpa's P-J!

Ken...

[carlos840]

Thank you ken, since i got this bass you ve always been the one answering all my questions about it!
Really appreciate.

How do the other G&L compare to the SB2?
Are they all as hot, im wondering what an L2000 would be like, im really getting addicted to the MFD punch and am thinking about another one.

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by carlos840

Thank you ken, since i got this bass you ve always been the one answering all my questions about it!
Really appreciate.

Thank you! Glad to be of help.

How do the other G&L compare to the SB2?
Are they all as hot, im wondering what an L2000 would be like, im really getting addicted to the MFD punch and am thinking about another one.

Yes, they are all pretty hot & punchy, but with different voices and different capabilities.

L-2000/2500/ASAT - Swiss Army Knives of bassdom. Huge, fat, mix-cutting monsters. Nicely aggressive midrange from the humbuckers. Mix equally well with a sweet acoustic band or wide open R&R.

L-1500/1505 - Think EBMM 1H Sterling (a more common bass) and dial up the aggression. These things will take out the front row.

The only G&L that is kinda-sorta normal (for a G&L) is the JB-2, which is a VERY single coil bass. It just doesn't get the respect it deserves. The community jury is out as to the pickups, but I have a generally favorable view.

I have a fistfull of different basses around here, and they're all good ones. A much-modded Lakland 55-01, EBMM Bongo 5HHp & SUB5, and three G&Ls (including an SB-2 that will not leave this place). They all have a place and they all have their voice. But the G&Ls are special.

Ken...

[strummin]

Originally Posted by Ken Baker

(including an SB-2 that will not leave this place).

Ken...

Does that mean you won't sell it or that it won't leave the house?

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by strummin

Does that mean you won't sell it or that it won't leave the house?

Won't sell it. Actually, I should never say never. Besides, if I did decide to sell it, Mal has first right of refusal.

Ken...

[GaryLC]

Originally Posted by Ken Baker

Won't sell it. Actually, I should never say never. Besides, if I did decide to sell it, Mal has first right of refusal.

Ken...

....and I've got dibs on Chef's Wunkays!!!!

[jk3]

how do you adjust the pole pieces?

The G String on my SB2s bridge pickup is a little weak, tried adjusting the pickup height - not getting much results.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Ken Baker

Lowering the pickup and raising the poles will make no real difference. Just set the pickup at a height that works for you and then use the pole pieces to adjust individual string volumes. That's what they're designed for.

The SB-2 has no obvious onboard EQ. The reality is that the bridge pickup can be dialed in to approximate the effect. Set the neck pickup volume to 80% or so and bring in the bridge to taste - usually a tad less than the neck.



Beast is about right. This ain't your grandpa's P-J!

Ken...

[carlos840]

each pole can be individually raised or lowered with the right allen key,