HELP! I can't get the right tone!

[jlepre]

I just purchased a sweet Fender Marcus Miller V and I can't seem to get the punchy tone I get from my MIM 4 string Fender Jazz. I am using a Markbass CMD 102P combo.

I just played 2 gigs this past weekend, and I tried both basses and loved the sound out of the MIM 4 string jazz, but the Marcus Miller just sounded too dark and muddy.

I even tried it with the active electronics switched off, but still no clear punchy sound. I'm wondering if this is just the nature of this bass and use it on certain songs. Any thoughts?

[RSJ4STRING]

how old are the strings? what guage are they? is the bass string thru? what kind of wood?holla back!!

[jlepre]

Originally Posted by RSJ4STRING

how old are the strings? what guage are they? is the bass string thru? what kind of wood?holla back!!

It's actually the stock strings that came with the bass, and they are only about a week old. It has string thru, but it is set up as bridge now. The body is ash with a maple neck. Maybe I should change to some brighter strings? I've just never had this problem with any Fender bass in my life and I've owned quite a few.

[derrenleepoole]

I would suggest putting the bass down and re-assessing your gear setup. Like looking at a very large painting, it's some times better to take a few steps back and see the whole picture from further away. That is to say, perhaps setting your amp and bass eq to flat may be a good starting point and work forward from there. The sound of your bass is a factor of many things not just the strings. I have a Mark Bass head and never use the eq. All my tone is from the active eq on my P-bass Lyte. Perhaps the amp and bass eq's are competing with each other somehow to make a confused and muddied tone?

[jlepre]

Originally Posted by derrenleepoole

I would suggest putting the bass down and re-assessing your gear setup. Like looking at a very large painting, it's some times better to take a few steps back and see the whole picture from further away. That is to say, perhaps setting your amp and bass eq to flat may be a good starting point and work forward from there. The sound of your bass is a factor of many things not just the strings. I have a Mark Bass head and never use the eq. All my tone is from the active eq on my P-bass Lyte. Perhaps the amp and bass eq's are competing with each other somehow to make a confused and muddied tone?

I tried using everything flat, but still never could achieve that punch. I also have this rig setup:

Ampeg SVT-5 PRO & Ampeg SVT-410HLF Cabinet

Maybe I'll try this at my next gigs and see if this does the trick.

[RSJ4STRING]

Originally Posted by jlepre

I tried using everything flat, but still never could achieve that punch. I also have this rig setup:

Ampeg SVT-5 PRO & Ampeg SVT-410HLF Cabinet

Maybe I'll try this at my next gigs and see if this does the trick.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN IDEA! IS YOUR OTHER BASS ACTIVE?

[pbass2]

I was taking my L2500(very different beast of course) out to some shows a while back(through whatever backline was there--usually pretty good stuff) when I was doing the fiver thing, and despite the reputation those basses have, I had the same problem---it just didn't "speak" clearly, or have the punch I'm used to with P's, etc. Drove me nuts. It sounded "foggy".
I found I had to really cut some pretty dramatic lows, and then it started to clear up. Working with the "subtractive EQ" mentality is always a good start, rather than boosting. I wouldn't think it's the strings. Dead flats can punch like a mofo if the bass/amp EQ is set right.

I have that same combo amp now, BTW---it's a punchy little amp! I'm guessing the MM has a pretty "scooped" tone? I'd start with setting everything flat as suggested, and cutting lows and low mids until it starts to sound clearer, same as you'd do in a mix recording.

[nysbob]

That cab tends toward a lot of lows. Did you check your battery? Throw a set of DRs or SS Smiths on your bass, just for the sake of science.

[jlepre]

Thanks for all of the great advice. I have already worked with cutting some of the lows, and not boosting too much on the active eq on this bass. It seems to have made a difference but the true test will be at the next gig. Unfortunately that won't be until next Wednesday!

Another thing I have noticed is that if I have both Volume knobs up full no problem, but if I cut one of them down at all I get a loud buzz. Is this just how the single coils work, or is there something wrong?

[esxmac]

Originally Posted by nysbob

Did you check your battery?

+1

I have an American Deluxe Jazz V and the batteries that came installed are horrible and I got inconsistent response/tone with the volume and tone controls. Once I switched out the batteries--and put on a set of DR Nickel Lo Riders--it sounds excellent!