Bright D-G strings, dull E and A??

LAG · #1 09-01-2010, 07:31 AM

I bought a used 20 YO MIJ 57 ri p bass that is killer except for a string problem. I have tried two different sets of flats and two diff sets of rounds on it, changed the set up, but still the D and G strings are way too bright, compared with the E and A strings. I don't know if this is a string or pickup or what type of issue.

Anyone have suggestions how to even out the tone?

knuckle_head · #2 09-01-2010, 08:28 AM

Even out the tension.

funkytoe · #3 09-01-2010, 11:18 AM

I would try two things:

First, try lowering the pickup height slightly on the treble side of the bass. P bass pickups have screws on either side of the pickup to adjust pickup height. Turn the screw on the
treble side (D & G) strings to lower the pickup on the bottom only. That will result in a little less volume/brightness on the D&G strings and may help to balance out the tone.

Also, check your string saddles on your A and E string at the bridge. Do your string windings cross the saddle on those strings? If so, you will get a muting/damping effect on those strings only. Since your saddles are likely a little forward on the D and G strings, you may see that the windings are only causing a problem on the E and A but not on the D and G strings.

Just some thoughts. Good luck.

darkstorm · #4 09-01-2010, 01:22 PM

Lower the pole peices rather then the actual pup, for the D&G part of the pup. This normally a pup a little less trebly. Whereas higher pole peices tend to cause more treble content.

winstonthecat · #5 09-01-2010, 01:25 PM

How do you lower the pole pieces only? I know about the adjustment screws on the p/up, but adjusting the pole pieces would seem to indicate taking the p/up apart?

Mrdak · #6 09-01-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Lower the pole peices rather then the actual pup, for the D&G part of the pup. This normally a pup a little less trebly. Whereas higher pole peices tend to cause more treble content.

He didn't say he had a pickup with adjustable poles.....

darkstorm · #7 09-01-2010, 01:56 PM

Ok yeah if your pups dont got adjustable pole peices, your outta luck for that version of sound tweaking. Its unfortunate that some mfg dont make there pups with adjustable pole peices.

Mrdak · #8 09-01-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winstonthecat

How do you lower the pole pieces only? I know about the adjustment screws on the p/up, but adjusting the pole pieces would seem to indicate taking the p/up apart?

DiMarzio and Schaller make a pickup with adjustable poles. G&L MFD pickups are adjustable too. You use an Allen wrench on the pole itself to adjust it.
To the OP.. you may need to lower the pickups on the E and G side. Just a little..... maybe?

LAG · #9 09-01-2010, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

Even out the tension.

knuckle, what do you mean by even out the tension?

LAG · #10 09-01-2010, 07:59 PM

I have tried lowering the D and G strings which resulted in lower volume but still very trebly tone compared to the E and A. The strings wraps sit across all the saddles the same. The pups don't have adjustable pole pieces.

Most all Fender p's have this trait to some degree, but this bass exhibits it more pronounced than any other p bass I have owned/played owned.

One more thing to add, this bass has noticeably more string buzz at the higher frets on the D and G strings then the lower two, at low action levels though. I play with the action at medium - low and there is no buzz there unless I dig in super hard.

Thanks all for the comments so far.

Chrisk-K · #11 09-01-2010, 10:27 PM

Rub the D & G strings with BBQ sauce and wipe it clean. That'll quickly kill the zing of those strings.

knuckle_head · #12 09-01-2010, 11:24 PM

Really - all you need is the right string set.

ixlramp · #13 09-02-2010, 11:45 AM

Almost all string sets have the D and G strings much tighter than the E and A. For example D'Addario:

Prosteels
PSB045 G .045 41.9
PSB065 D .065 47.3
PSB080 A .080 40.5
PSB100 E .100 34.4

Chromes
CB045 G 0.045 45.7
CB065 D 0.065 52.0
CB080 A 0.080 43.7
CB100 E 0.100 38.4

The D and G strings being tighter and thinner tends to make them brighter. Perhaps this is the cause of your problem, as knuckle_head suggests.

Using a tension balanced set (all strings at a similar tension) helps to even out the tone across the strings. This company makes excellent balanced sets: http://circlekstrings.com/store/

funkytoe · #14 09-02-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAG

I have tried lowering the D and G strings which resulted in lower volume but still very trebly tone compared to the E and A. The strings wraps sit across all the saddles the same.

When I said check the string wraps on the E and A, I really meant the silk wraps -- not the string windings. The silk (threaded) part of the wrap usually extends from the ball about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. If the saddles are too far back on your E and A strings, this silk part of the wrapping may be resting in your saddle, where the string is supposed to make contact. That will mute your string vibration, giving you a less volume, less sustain, and less brightness on those strings.

When you say that "the string wrap sits across all the saddles the same", I hope you mean that the saddles are all making contact with the string windings, not the string silks.

LAG · #15 09-07-2010, 09:35 AM

I found a small set-up issue I previously overlooked that apparently caused the abnormally bright tone issues on the higher strings. The D and G split pup side was a tiny bit 'loose' and would tilt a tad toward the neck, which caused the tone to sound brighter. A little tilt went a long way, tonally. When the pup is sitting square, the two higher strings sound less bright, more in-line tonally with the lower strings. I added more foam added under that split pup and it now sits level, which has evened out the tone with the E and A strings. In the future I will probably change out the stock pups to aftermarket.

Thanks all once again for your comments!

funkytoe · #16 09-07-2010, 11:09 AM

Glad it worked out for you. Great lesson there too. Its amazing how minor set up issues can effect both the tone and playability of a bass. Lots of bassists (myself included) spend years trading instrument after instrument looking for that holy grail of basses. After 32 years of playing, I have learned that almost any bass can sound and play like a GREAT one, if you take the time to really dial it in and not be afraid to experiment with different strings/set ups. Glad you took the time to work with your bass. Stay on it, it will save you years of GAS and thousands of dollars in the long run.