EMG-HZ Questions/issues

chokeslam512 · #1 01-14-2009, 07:20 AM

Greetings all.

I was pulling what little hair I have left out of my head trying to figure out where I am going wrong.

Background:
Tuning: DADG
Head: Ashdown mag 600
Cab: Ashdown ABM414T
Bass: Schecter Stiletto
PUPS: EMG-HZ Soapbar
Playing style: Pick/abusive finger

The problems I have been experiencing were when I hit the low D my amp was farting out and not giving me any sustain. The mids and highs seemed to be fine. Up to this point I was thinking it was the amps fault or it was the cab or I needed a compressor etc.

My question is (if you made it this far in my long winded post) Should I be looking at lowering the low side of the pups? I feel pretty confident from my search efforts on this forum that it will get rid of the farting but will the lower adjustment help with sustain or will I be losing more?

Thanks, Matt

stuonbass · #2 01-14-2009, 07:32 AM

You could roll your on-bass low EQ down a hair. You may be getting too hot of a signal causing the problem.
I used to have that very bass and rarely ran the low EQ more than a notch above mid set.

ihateusernames · #3 01-14-2009, 07:40 AM

i don't like the emg hz in that bass at all, and i wouldn't for a moment blame them for causing those symptoms. maybe the settings you're using on the onboard preamp could be a part of the issue, not the pickups.

stflbn · #4 01-14-2009, 07:42 AM

Set the bass EQ flat. Set your amp EQ Flat. Be more gentle on the tuned down D than you are the A string.

Try it now.

Tuned down Floppier string with less tension means you need to lighten up some.

However, both of my main basses are Schecter, yet I've gutted them both and loaded them with custom Kent Armstrong pickups and Aguilar OBP-3 preamps. I agree with the others though... the more abusive you are to the string the less you can expect to boost your lows on the bass.

chokeslam512 · #5 01-14-2009, 08:00 AM

I am trying to update my technique a bit but the years of playing a peavey markVIII head through a 410 have made me quite good at string abuse. I guess it is time to start letting the amplifier do the work.

FWIW I have NEVER adjusted the PUPS at all... or the bridge for that matter maybe a little tweak would not be a bad thing in addition to a new playing style?

Thanks again for your thoughts and help guys.