String Volume Imbalance

[thomasmoulding]

I know (in addition to plucking too hard) I'm doing something wrong here ....

I've always had a really bad string volume balance in my playing. The E,A and D strings always nice and full, but above the first couple of frets on the G it gets lost in a hurry. I'm currently playing a 62 RI P-Bass a SVT350 with a 4X10 and 1X18 cab (have also tried using a Black Finger compressor - not much help, but I may not have dialed it in right.) I really don't think it the equipments' fault, since it's been a problem with all the different rigs I've used in the past. Any help would be appreciated.

[leffe luffer]

Well I would say that a compressor can help you with that but you said you had tried that. Although I´m not familiar with the compressor you mentioned.

One thing that I can think of is how you place your picking hand?

Maybe by using the "movable anchor" or "floating thumb" tecnique you can make your picking more consistent since the angle of your wrist and fingers will be more similar regardless of wich string you are playing.

[Steve]

You also might want to look at your EQ keeping in mind that the mids of the lower register are the fundamentals of the higher notes.

You can really suck the power out of the upper end if you're not careful.

[IAmTheDood]

check where your fretting fingers are on the high strings. I've noticed in the short time I'm playing that I am struggling on the G string with sounds .. unless the fretting finger is in the absolute perfect spot right behind the fret .. the pitch will be a little off.

[chaosMK]

Height of the string/height of the pickup. Your EQ could be a factor too if you are using a scooped tone. When I used less midrange on my old Ibanez, the G string would get lost.

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by chaosMK

Height of the string/height of the pickup. Your EQ could be a factor too if you are using a scooped tone. When I used less midrange on my old Ibanez, the G string would get lost.

I agree and this is what bikertrash was talking about. Set the EQ flat and see what changes. You might try setting the EQ with only the G string in mind, get that sounding right, and then see what you have for the lower strings, you might like it.

[thomasmoulding]

Fellow Low-Enders,

Thanks for all the responses - I've got rehearsal tonite - I'll try re-EQ'ing up the 80-200 range (I do have these bands down about 30% from the baseline) and report back on what happens. I've never had this bass "set up"- that will be next -does the luthier need to know if I typically pluck/play overly hard? (does it make a difference in the way he'll adjust it?)

[battery]

what you can do is use thicker g string or raise that pickup end.

another option is to get ritter swordsteel strings. they are special handmade and some magic has been added. the volume of all strings is nearly the same. plus the gstring has a much "fatter" sound than the one of other string sets