compensate for different sound of bass?

#1 03-17-2010, 07:20 PM

Hi TBers
I recently got a pj bass that has dimarzio model PJ pickups in it, and a fender usa deluxe precision neck on it. I really like the feel of it and all, but it's sound is a bit different than my other PJ USA fender

I play pick style with my alternative rock band, and i like getting a lot of buzz in my sound (sort of like thursday if that rings any bells for some people) (this video sums up the sound I'm after http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL8og...eature=related) the problem i'm having is that with my old bass, the fret buzz seemed to sustain and actually be a part of the note, while still having depth... on this new one it seems like the string clanks on the fret and doesn't sustain the buzz.My new bass sounds a LOT darker than my other fender acoustically, but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on getting a brighter sound that sustains the fretbuzz like I need it to.

I currently use SIT rock brights on both basses and both basses have high mass bridges on them.

any suggestions are welcomed. Thanks!!!

JimmyM · #2 03-17-2010, 09:31 PM

maybe new pickups? dimarzio pj's are great pickups but they don't have a lot of high end.

#3 03-19-2010, 04:49 PM

Thanks for the response!
I can see how pickups would help it favor the higher frequencies... but the bass seems to just be a lot darker (the attacks are blunter as well) than my other one acoustically....

Any other suggestions?

**Pacman** · #4 03-19-2010, 05:00 PM

You're not going to get two basses to sound exactly alike - and why would you want to? Each instrument has its own 'voice'...my advice is use each voice when it's appropriate musically.

Fliptrique · #5 03-19-2010, 05:04 PM

Is the relif close to identical on both of them? Even a bit more bow in the neck will decrase the grind you`re after a lot.

#6 03-19-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fliptrique

Is the relif close to identical on both of them? Even a bit more bow in the neck will decrase the grind you`re after a lot.

I didn't think of that! time to investigate...

You're not going to get two basses to sound exactly alike - and why would you want to? Each instrument has its own 'voice'...my advice is use each voice when it's appropriate musically.

I agree that they aren't gonna sound exactly the same. I wouldn't want them to sound perfectly identical... but at the same time, the bass I am trying to make sound brighter i like for gigs because it is only 5 pounds... the other one is 13 pounds. I like it, but I think it's better for studio work and sit down gigs.

derridiandrift · #7 03-19-2010, 05:23 PM

You're doing the right thing by starting with the acoustic sound of the bass itself. I get what you're after, and alot of that is in the resonance of the body and the relief of the neck.

Fliptrique's idea of putting a bit more relief into the neck will probably help. If the neck is set too flat, the strings will not buzz as much as clank. I find that the best necks for that aggressive buzz sound are necks that are kind of meaty (think 70s p-bass or stingray). Body wood is important too.

For instance, I had a early/mid 90s MIJ 60s reissue jazz bass that didn't sound right after a few different pickup swaps. It was clanky like you describe. The finish was real thick, and the body wood might have been basswood, but I'm not sure. In the end I sold it because it was an absolute nightmare to get it so sound right.

Try the neck relief adjustment that Flip suggested, but you might just have to eq some of the buzz back in. Depending on the bass, I've found that I can accentuate that buzz at around 900hz and/or around 2khz.

Can you record it and send PM the mp3 to me? I could help you with eq frequencies.