Uneven string volume

sruby6 · #1 09-09-2010, 06:01 AM

Hello fellow keepers of the groove, I have a question about string volume. I play a MTD Z6 modified with Bartolini pick ups and an Aguilar pre-amp through a SWR750 head, I notice when playing my D, G and C strings to not come through in the live mix. When I play anything on those strings and especially in the higher register of the fret board it is very week sounding. I adjusted my string height and this does not help and also have tweeked my tone and let other musicians tweek it also but with no luck. Is there anything that someone can recommend? I have been looking into compressors but am not sure if this is the right route. Many thanks in advance for anybody taking the time to read this and respond.

dave_bass5 · #2 09-09-2010, 06:32 AM

Only thing i can think of is EQ. make sure You are not cutting too much mid range.

sruby6 · #3 09-09-2010, 06:49 AM

Do you have any frequency recommendations? A couple of weeks ago I sat in with a band and the tone was amazing and I wish I had copied the settings down.

dave_bass5 · #4 09-09-2010, 06:57 AM

Sorry no. Im not really clued up on all that. Its just that ive noticed my D string can get lost in the mix if i have a scooped EQ at certain gigs. Plus i had a weak G string issue with my Ray34 that also seemed to be EQ related.

Bassman7PM · #5 09-09-2010, 07:17 AM

What type of strings are you using? I know this might not make sense but an unbalanced set along with your playing style might be the problem. I had this same issue with my Lakland 55-01 and later with my Conklin 7. I had S.I.T. recommend a full balanced set for me and now I can hear every note equally across the fretboard.

SlingBass4 · #6 09-09-2010, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassman7PM

What type of strings are you using? I know this might not make sense but an unbalanced set along with your playing style might be the problem. I had this same issue with my Lakland 55-01 and later with my Conklin 7. I had S.I.T. recommend a full balanced set for me and now I can hear every note equally across the fretboard.

Good point. I might add that there's always the possibility that a string(s) could simply be bad. The chance of 3 strings out of 4 in a set being bad, however, strikes me as unlikely. Checking your pup height in relation to your strings, and review of EQ settings are more common elements of your problem.

sruby6 · #7 09-09-2010, 07:54 AM

Thanks for all the responses! I appreciate all the feedback. I am using D'Addario 170L's.

Thumpinthenight · #8 09-09-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassman7PM

What type of strings are you using? I know this might not make sense but an unbalanced set along with your playing style might be the problem. I had this same issue with my Lakland 55-01 and later with my Conklin 7. I had S.I.T. recommend a full balanced set for me and now I can hear every note equally across the fretboard.

+1 here.
I had this problem with my 4 string, using DR hi-beams. My D string would sound "deadened" for some reason. It could have been defective. After changing to a new set, this went away.

smogg · #9 09-09-2010, 08:07 AM

Start with everything flat, (bass EQ & amp EQ) if the E string is still way dominate over the others then lower the pup(s) a little on the low E side of the pup(s). Then start tweaking EQ settings. (probably a small bump on mid & hi-mid should help).
Remember that a little usually goes a long ways.

dave_bass5 · #10 09-09-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sruby6

Thanks for all the responses! I appreciate all the feedback. I am using D'Addario 170L's.

Same here. I had two sets that had a duff string recently.
Im guessing that its not the strings if they sounded fine before, it cant imagine 3 strings going at once.
Definitly check the pup height/angle.

Also, test this out with only one pup at a time, just to eliminate a faulty pup.

Geddyfleaharris · #11 09-09-2010, 08:46 AM

Maybe a completely off the wall suggestion but I had a Ric 4003 with string volume issues. I could never get them all consistent until I started using a compressor. Problem solved, everything was evened out. I use the compressor all the time with light 2:1 compression and am happy happy.

sruby6 · #12 09-09-2010, 08:51 AM

The compressor suggestion was made awhile back to me by a friend and I have been looking into this. Do you have any model suggestions? Been looking at the Aguilar TLC and the Markbass Compresore.

Geddyfleaharris · #13 09-09-2010, 08:56 AM

I use a rack mount dbx.

Check out Bongomania's compressor reviews in the following link. Great place to start. Bongo knows his stuff.

http://www.ovnilab.com/index.shtml

El Bajo · #14 09-09-2010, 09:09 AM

Once you start venturing into the guitars range you will get lost in the mix, the only thing to do is boost the mids but then you may have an ugly town in the lower frequencies. Its all about balance and its not easy especiall mid song. Many time i have my controls set a very unusual settings that sound great when playing with the band but terrible when playing solo (having a volume/overdrive pedal can be good for this if you have some solo stuff mid song).

Also a room size can greatly influence your sound, if you played on a hollow wood stage your bass would be booming, yet place it on a cocrete floor and it soaks up all the vibrations and sound more trebly.

trainwrecker · #15 09-09-2010, 09:19 AM

have you changed your pre-amp batteries?

Zooberwerx · #16 09-13-2010, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geddyfleaharris

I use a rack mount dbx.

Check out Bongomania's compressor reviews in the following link. Great place to start. Bongo knows his stuff.

http://www.ovnilab.com/index.shtml

Tell us a little more about the application / optimal settings, please. I have a dbx 166 XL sitting on a shelf that I'd like to install. I'm presently using a BBE OptoStomp (two knobs....less likely to screw things up).

As I understand, you can achieve a better balance throughout the range via the judicious use of the compressor and expander.

Riis

Geddyfleaharris · #17 09-13-2010, 08:46 AM

On my dbx 1066 the chain is set up as - expander/gate ---> compressor ----> peak limiter.

I don't use the expander/gate at all. I perceive the gate as something that cuts off unwanted sound below a certain level. I seem to have a fairly quiet signal chain. I have read that using a gate is masking a problem. Fix the problem rather then put a band-aid on it. Doubt if everyone agrees with that but that's the theory I am going with.

On the compressor I use the auto setting - their manual says for "classic" dbx sound. Then you don't have to worry about setting attack and release. I have used those in the past but am happy with the the "auto" setting. The threshold is set at around -20 to -10, light compression at 2:1. I don't "squish" my sound with heavy compression.

The peak limiter is set at +8 to +10.

That gives me a nice, clean, transparent sound. The compressor is on all the time.

4Mal · #18 09-13-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sruby6

Thanks for all the responses! I appreciate all the feedback. I am using D'Addario 170L's.

That could be the problem ... Try TI PowerBass or SuperAlloys...

Another could be pickup heght. You might try lowering the pickups and lowering then further on the bass side.

FWIW on compression. The Gate is primarily used to fix things in a live setting or as an effect while recording... the 'things' would be ringing drums in a loud environment the vast majority of the time. IMO - the 166XL is overkill in a bass rig... I run one as a brick wall before my mains in the FOH rack. It's a decent comp for sure. In a bass rig I can get as much out of a Punch Factory/ OptoStomp as just a smidge is plenty for me and any more than a smidge rob's punch.

EQ - making sure that the lows are in balance with the highs and the mids is a tricky thing. Lots of variables bass to bass, rig to rig ... I can say that moving to a fEarful12.6 has me dinking with the EQ lot less than I ever have before. (with the possible exception of last Saturday night where I was fighting a not very good sounding room, standsing about on top of my cab and a keyboard heavy mix - some nights it's chicken, some it's feathers ...)

Mo'Phat · #19 09-20-2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlingBass4

Good point. I might add that there's always the possibility that a string(s) could simply be bad. The chance of 3 strings out of 4 in a set being bad, however, strikes me as unlikely. Checking your pup height in relation to your strings, and review of EQ settings are more common elements of your problem.

I was about to mention this. If the D/G/C side of your pickups is screwed too far down into the body, you would have a volume drop in relationship to the other strings.

Chances are, the best pickup orientation is with that side of the pickup closer to those strings.

dave_bass5 · #20 09-20-2010, 02:42 PM

The higher that side of the pup is to the strings the louder the D will be. This won't change the volume difference between the D and G in my experience.
It's a step in the right direction but not a solution, again, IMO.