Taming my monster of the deep? tapewound content

newbold · #1 01-03-2010, 11:07 AM

So I bought myself a set of TruBass88's for christmas. I play a Standard JazzV and use a pedalboard for octave, octave distortion, parallel drive/fuzz, have a bassballs, and a Pigtronix EP-1.

I'm running that into my Yamaha BBT500 combo.

I want to avoid EQ as much as possible.

I've managed to use the parametric EQ now and again sparingly or not at all on my 5 preset sounds...

...trouble is, my amp uses 'digital modelling EQ' to mimic amp tones. I like the tone but want to keep my rig fairly flat.

I'm going to lower my neck pickup shortly but am curious what you Tapewound players do to get your tone mid-defined and smack-upside-the-head kickin'.

newbold · #2 01-03-2010, 11:08 AM

GM60466 · #3 01-03-2010, 02:00 PM

Try Chromes

newbold · #4 01-03-2010, 05:18 PM

Been playing the 'flat' setting today.

I think much of my problem is playing at quiet volumes.

Still...any ideas are welcome.

Hoover · #5 01-05-2010, 06:37 AM

uh... what was the question?

mcapote · #6 01-05-2010, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

uh... what was the question?

I didnt see it either LOL

morebass! · #7 01-05-2010, 07:35 AM

I find tapewounds to be more balanced than flats. Chromes are middy, as are TIs if you can deal with the low tension.

newbold · #8 01-05-2010, 12:10 PM

How can I get a more mid-defined tone with punch from tapes?

I find my neck pickup has an abundance of low end with these strings.

Joe Smithberger · #9 01-06-2010, 05:16 PM

There is a large difference in sound between different brands of tapes. On my Rob Allen, the Rotos sounded like mud, but the LaBellas (Carvin) were much brighter with more mids. Without changing strings, you will need to get over whatever fobia you have with using the EQ.

newbold · #10 01-08-2010, 01:15 PM

Not that there's a phobia, but I want to do every simple fix I can before resorting to EQ.

I used to use a lot of EQ, then I changed my approach to amp EQ settings and I now find that I have a lot better tone.

I would cut here to boost there, and while that works, I started overdoing it.

I went back to 'flat' amp settings, and my 'flat' preset (I'm not really getting away from EQ on anything but my 'flat' preset) and I'm tweaking a lot less now.

I think the only thing I have left to do is change my pickup height.

Philbiker · #11 01-08-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbold

How can I get a more mid-defined tone with punch from tapes?

I find my neck pickup has an abundance of low end with these strings.

Me, too. On my two pickup Brice V2 6 string, I usually keep the bridge pickup all the way up, and turn the neck pickup up to add some low end boom. I often end up with the neck at about halfway, the bridge is always all the way up.

That bass honks like a sonofagun.

Love the tone.

Festus · #12 01-08-2010, 06:58 PM

Hmmm........aren't these strings supposed to be super bassy anyway? I got a set for my acoustic crafter and they were great!
I will now be installing them on my Stingray for some booming fun.

Meatrus · #13 01-09-2010, 05:48 AM

Other than using the bridge pickup and plucking close to the bridge, the only other two options would be EQ, or different strings. The Trubass arent really meant for high-end, so you will need a fair bit of EQ. They are very good at what they do though, so maybe keep them in a drawer until you play some stuff which would benefit from their tone.

newbold · #14 05-25-2010, 06:27 PM

So I figure I should revisit this thread, as you folks made some suggestions that - while great - I have gone a different route.

Most of it has been my amp but some of it is on my pedalboard.

So here's an approach:

My amp (yamaha BBT500) has a 1 band parametric EQ and 5 band semi-para.

I use the 1 band to run my fingers through that big wooly koosh and let my mids stand out. Low-Mid scoop, nothing too drastic, but the top end (if that's what you can call it) of my bass sounds great.

So these strings are flats with flat nylon tape overtop...so they're certainly the flattest of the flatwound strings I've found. I must say that being able to use that 1 band to clean any much out of my tone has not only been handy but it's brought me a new appreciation of my instrument. I no longer secretly wish I had a better instrument but now can only aspire to eventually fill out a bass arsenal with flats and rounds because I can get these strings to perform. It's easy as pie to get rounds to zing but finding some snap in 88's? Challenging.

I also have found a lot of use for my Pigtronix OFO Disnortion. The Fuzz as a 'clean' preamp (mid-scooped) or as a distortion (bass) kicks with these strings: I can hear the distortion as its own texture and not as a part of the tone and I like that. The Overdrive channel is nice and pulsey and FWIW, tapes work really well with my pedalboard.

I wouldn't hesitate to put these strings on any bass, but a 5 string passive bass certainly can benefit from attenuating certain parts of the spectrum before amplifying the overall level.