Losing tone?

[Bluez Dawg]

Hey gang I think I am losing tone on my bass. if that is the case, how do I gain it back? and what causes it? Like what is the most common issues?

[wujuu]

um...what exactly do you mean losing tone?

[HeavyFingers]

How old/new are your strings?
As they get "broken in" they tend sound a bit different - lose a bit of thier brightness.

Do you have passive or active pickups?
If you have active pickups you might want to check your battery (there should be a plastic cover/cut-out on the back of your bass - take the screws out and it will expose either 1 or 2 9v batteries depending on the pickups).

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by wujuu

um...what exactly do you mean losing tone?

I don't know how to explain it. but I think I've been working on too much of my technique and I think my tone has gone down hill.

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by HeavyFingers

How old/new are your strings?
As they get "broken in" they tend sound a bit different - lose a bit of thier brightness.

Do you have passive or active pickups?
If you have active pickups you might want to check your battery (there should be a plastic cover/cut-out on the back of your bass - take the screws out and it will expose either 1 or 2 9v batteries depending on the pickups).

They are 6 month old. and yes I have active an passive. with an active eq. and my battery is fine I had it charging all night so it shouldnt be that.

[HeavyFingers]

I guess it could be your strings then. As I'm sure you know, the tone of your strings slowly slips away and before you know it you don't know what they sounded like 2 months ago. Just my guess. The only other thing I can think of is if you changed the settings on your bass or amp by accident. Kinda out of ideas after that.

[Akami]

If replacing your strings doesn't do it then there's also the possibility that your ears have become more refined and what once sounded good enough is no longer so.

Everyone here can remember thinking something sounded good when they were a teenager only to hear it later and realize how flawed it had become.

Hopefully it's just strings, but it may be time for GAS to happen!

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by Akami

If replacing your strings doesn't do it then there's also the possibility that your ears have become more refined and what once sounded good enough is no longer so.

Everyone here can remember thinking something sounded good when they were a teenager only to hear it later and realize how flawed it had become.

Hopefully it's just strings, but it may be time for GAS to happen!

You got a point. and I've been practicing a lot longer now then I normally do so I could actaully be getting better. and thanks guys I will do a few more run down of my gear.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by DerekTbasser

and my battery is fine I had it charging all night so it shouldnt be that.

what kind of rechargable? They cannot be recharged infinitely. try a brand new duracell or energizer and see if that fixes it.

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by James Hart

what kind of rechargable? They cannot be recharged infinitely. try a brand new duracell or energizer and see if that fixes it.

Its actully an energizer 9volt. and it has like 25000 hours of recharge use on it. Thanks James.

[wujuu]

can you try and describe your loss in tone? does it sound more quiet than usual? more muddy? thinner?

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by wujuu

can you try and describe your loss in tone? does it sound more quiet than usual? more muddy? thinner?

It doesnt sound like it is filling up my room like it used too. like a warm tone I had. and I am running a yorkville tc 200 with 2x10's. I talked to my bass teacher about this tonight and he thinks it could be becuase I am really hitting my strings hard?

[wujuu]

i would guess its old strings or your attack...maybe hitting too hard...but how old are the strings?>

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by wujuu

i would guess its old strings or your attack...maybe hitting too hard...but how old are the strings?>

They're 6 months old I think. I got them on decemeber 25th as a christmans gift.

[DaveAceofBass]

Originally Posted by DerekTbasser

Its actully an energizer 9volt. and it has like 25000 hours of recharge use on it. Thanks James.

I would never trust a nickel/cadmium rechargable battery in any bass I own. They don't have the same power output as alkaline or lithium batteries. I doubt they supply sufficient energy to onboard preamps or active pickups. Second, Duracell is the way to go over Energizer any day. The pink bunny with the drum is wrong. Third, try out some Ultralife batteries. Most music stores carry them, they're a little more expensive, but lithium not alkaline and they will last 4 times as long as your alkaline. It's not a gimmick either--trust me on that one, I've tried it myself. They really do last longer. But chances are it's a combination of dead strings, refined technique, and your crappy battery (no offense).

[Correlli]

Old strings don't produce harmonic overtones very well. Get some new expensive strings.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Kid

Old strings don't produce harmonic overtones very well. Get some new expensive strings.

he's playing flats... they've got about 8 years left in them at the least

[Akami]

Originally Posted by DerekTbasser

It doesnt sound like it is filling up my room like it used too. like a warm tone I had. and I am running a yorkville tc 200 with 2x10's. I talked to my bass teacher about this tonight and he thinks it could be becuase I am really hitting my strings hard?

If it's lacking warmth that you remember previously then it sounds much more like a possiblity that your suffering from battery insufficiency and you should take a new alkaline or lithium un-rechargeble and call us in the morning.

Dead strings would have you missing high end and liveliness, but shouldn't make you notice a lack of warmth.

Besides, see what James had to say...

Originally Posted by James Hart

he's playing flats... they've got about 8 years left in them at the least

[Bluez Dawg]

Originally Posted by James Hart

he's playing flats... they've got about 8 years left in them at the least

Oh yeah. it was mt battery's & a little on my attack. My bass teacher says I am hitting way too hard with my left hand.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by DerekTbasser

My bass teacher says I am hitting way too hard with my left hand.

I have a very hard right hand attack... that's how I get *my* tone