coping with different basses live

[caedmondave]

alright, so i've done a fair amount of searching and reading on here, but i haven't found the right answer (if that exists) or right thread. i hope i haven't missed something.

anyway, basically what i need is the best option for maintaining consistent volume when switching between a jazz bass and a p-bass live; the p-bass is so much louder that i have to turn down the gain on my amp (or on the bass) if i want to be able to play as hard as i do on the jazz bass, but without being ridiculously louder. is a limiter going to be helpful with that?

[katri]

Radial bassbone maybe?

[ErebusBass]

You might want to try an EQ or volume pedal for when you need a little extra volume with your jazz.

[tom5string]

Bassbone seconded!

I'm using it for some time now to switch between Electric Upright and Zon 5-String on stage. Works as I always wanted:
switch bass - click - switch bass - click - swi ...

with independant gain adjustment on two the basses plus one channel with a complete EQ section

Tom

[caedmondave]

Originally Posted by ErebusBass

You might want to try an EQ or volume pedal for when you need a little extra volume with your jazz.

right, but i don't want extra volume.

i was thinking i could set the volume of the amp and everything where i want it with the jazz, and then with the help of [pedal] i won't have to turn down when the p-bass is plugged in.

[GreggBummer]

I use a Boss Bass Limiter and my volume is pretty consistent across all three basses I use. I put the limiter as the last "effect" in my signal change before the amp. Seems to work well.

Do a search and look at Bongomania's very nifty primers and reviews on limiters and compressors. They helped me.

[greenboy]

I'm of the "leave all but one bass home unless they are radically different since I only play parties and bar gigs and not concerts" (say a triple course 5-string and a Tbird) variety but the Bassbone is a good suggestion.

[chrisplaysbass]

All the boss stuff colors your sound because its not true bypass. This is what you want, it has two inputs and a DIM level to passively attenuate your P-bass. It doesn't cost much, allows you to use one tuner for two basses and does not require any power.

http://www.radialeng.com/re-bigshot-io.htm

[BeDon Bron]

get an A/B box, put a volume pedal on the P-Bass's chain before it hits the A/B box and adjust as needed.

[caedmondave]

Originally Posted by GreggBummer

I use a Boss Bass Limiter and my volume is pretty consistent across all three basses I use. I put the limiter as the last "effect" in my signal change before the amp. Seems to work well.

Do a search and look at Bongomania's very nifty primers and reviews on limiters and compressors. They helped me.

yeah, i've been reading a lot of those. quite helpful. i may have just missed it, but i didn't see anything that specifically addressed different gain from different instruments and how to kind of even those out. i've been wanting to get a compressor anyway, so should i just look for one that has a peak limiter or something?

[JustDavid]

One option is to lower the P's pickups & raise the J's; balance the sources.

[stflbn]

I have a Boss EQ-20 which has 9 presets. I keep a couple presets for each bass and just bump the preset when I switch basses.

[Jared Lash]

I did this ghetto fabulous style for a while with my old guitar player's MXR Micro Amp. I eq'd the louder of my two basses (the fretted) on my amp and then plugged in my fretless (which was quieter) and turned up the MXR until I felt they were even. Then I'd just click it on or off when I was switching basses.

A great solution? No, not really. But it worked for me. Well, other than the couple times I switched back to the fretted and forgot to turn it off. Got some dirty looks from my bandmates each time.

[scotch]

I use an Xotic RC Booster and/or the Barge GLZ-1 for matching volumes. Both pedals are true bypass & super high quality with zero perceptible coloration. Both pedals also let you boost or cut, depending on how you want to approach the situation...

The Bassbone is a good idea as well, but it is pretty big - just make sure you want all of the extra features it provides!

Your lowest cost & simplest answer (other than matching pickup output via height) may be the EH LPB-1. It really is transparent sounding and only $40...

[caedmondave]

Originally Posted by chrisplaysbass

All the boss stuff colors your sound because its not true bypass. This is what you want, it has two inputs and a DIM level to passively attenuate your P-bass. It doesn't cost much, allows you to use one tuner for two basses and does not require any power.

http://www.radialeng.com/re-bigshot-io.htm

yes! i think that may be just the kind of thing i was searching for. thanks, man.

[caedmondave]

Originally Posted by JustDavid

One option is to lower the P's pickups & raise the J's; balance the sources.

is this a professionals-only kind of job?

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by caedmondave

is this a professionals-only kind of job?

Nope. It's pretty easy. Generally all it requires is a screwdriver and possibly a loosening of the strings to get at the screws.

[smo]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I did this ghetto fabulous style for a while with my old guitar player's MXR Micro Amp. I eq'd the louder of my two basses (the fretted) on my amp and then plugged in my fretless (which was quieter) and turned up the MXR until I felt they were even. Then I'd just click it on or off when I was switching basses.

I did the same thing with an EQ pedal.
I EQ my whole shibang with my main bass.

Then using the EQ pedal first in chain - kicked in the EQ when I used the 2nd bass. Not only a volume difference, but it gave me the chance to make up for the differences/EQ in girth between the two basses.
AND, it meant I could send a signal (from the BUFFERED EQ pedal) which had the similar impedance.
It really helped me avoiding extra fiddling with OD and Fuzz pedals, trying to find that sweet spot.

Just as BigO said - my method isn't the best way, but it is cheap.