Tone Question

[segrin]

Hi y'all...

I've done some searching through previous posts here but there are so many that I've probably missed something. So if I'm being redundant, let me know.

I'm not a purist, I don't know much technical stuff, and I don't have a lot of money so I don't have the most expensive basses, but this is seeming like either a string issue or I just have no idea how to EQ my bass. I've dealt with this with using 5 different basses. I play with a flat pick and I like a bright but heavy tone. I can adjust my playing so I can get a good powerful tone on harder rock stuff, and a more mellow tone on lighter stuff. The basses I've used range from an old Charvel PJ to low-line Peavey and Yamaha, and a few others. On every bass I've played I can't get a deep tone on the higher strings. E and A sound great, but the sound on the other two is terribly thin, so any time I range in the higher notes the bass tone drops out. I know part of it is because I play with a pick, but I've seen others who do too and they don't seem to have the problem. I've tried adjusting tone knobs on the bass and different EQing with different amps, and anything that sounds workable on the higher strings makes the low strings sound horrible. I play round wounds, and I've tried light and medium gauges. I don't know that my fingers could handle anything too heavy. I've used DR, Rotosound and GHS, and I haven't noticed much difference between steel and nickel.

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to beef up the sound on the higher strings? I'm at a loss and I've given up on asking at music stores - any time I ask about strings all I'm told is "I don't know - I've never tried them". I'd appreciate the help. Thanks!

[fullrangebass]

Try some flats on.

[perucci]

I'm guessing you have round-wound strings, and the EQ set with lots of bass, but not much mid or treble. By filtering-out the higher frequencies, you filter-out the higher strings. If, like me, you gravitate towards an "old school" sound, flatwounds are the solution.

Alternative problem. It could also be that your pickup(s) needs to be adjusted so it is closer to the high strings.

[ehque]

Sounds like a Dingwall is in order.

[segrin]

I appreciate the responses. I'm looking for flatwounds now. None of the local stores have any, so it'll be a trip to get some. What about taperwounds? I don't know anything about them.

I also messed some more with my EQing. I've always had the tone on the bass set for high, so I tried going almost exclusively with the middle pickup and setting the tone for about medium, and adding high at the amp. It helped slightly, but only slightly. So I'm looking forward to trying new strings.