G&L Pick Ups Too Crunchy

[willsellout]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Those aren't boost knobs. They are cut knobs. They only remove lows and highs. They are passive controls, so they don't boost. The active preamp has a treble boost, but you might get a fuller tone switching that on and turning down the treble tone control.

Your volume on the ASAT should be on 10. If thats too loud, turn down your amp. That's the correct way of using the bass. The reason is that volume pot has a treble bleed cap. That means if you turn it down lower than 10, it's passing some extra treble, i.e., making the tone brighter. This is to compensate for the dulling affect you get turning down your passive volume.

So for the fullest tone keep the volume on the bass on 10, and then turn it down at the amp. Also keep the bass tone knob on 10 since that only removes bass. Then you can turn the treble tone knob down to get a less crunchy tone. That works like a standard tone control, because it is.

Also, it sounds like you need less bright strings. What kind are you using?

+1

[kellyrojo]

Check yo battery. I don't hear crunchy from an l so something may be up???

[dtripoli]

Thanks, I will try it with bass volume on 10 and adjust from the amp, as well as the tone adjustments as mentioned.
I have played this ASAT through Crate, Ashdown, Fender, a number of various amps at rehearsal studios and My Peavey. I became more aware of the crunch when I added the 2x10 cab to the Black Widow 1x15
I'm thinking just sit down and methodically try all combinations until the sound safe is cracked.
I'm actually hoping to achieve the sound with the bass only because for for rehearsals I got the Ashdown, for small gigs the Fender BXR60 and big gigs the Peavey. The Ashdown is set and a must use but all other gigs can be the Peavey with just the 2x10 in place of the weak Fender for small gigs.

[dtripoli]

Checking-changing battery as you read this.....

[sunbeast]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

The point wasn't about the level, it was about the tone. He doesn't want a bright crunchy tone, but he will lose low end with the volume decreased.

If you are recording you should be using a limiter. Then you can bash the strings as hard as you like, like I do.

I forgot about that "treble bleed" capacitor. Another mod for the OP to consider is removing that- this will add more tonal control by allowing you to slightly change the character/brightness of the sound just by lowering the volume control on the bass. As SGD mentioned, G&Ls come with a cpacitor on the volume control which bleeds treble through as it is turned down to inhibit the tonal change of turning down the volume, which is one of the forst things I have removed from my L-series basses when I got them...

[dtripoli]

In my rush to judgement, I was quick to blame my ASAT for the crunchy tone.
The volume on 10 works fantastic. Went to adjust the amp to compensate for the increased volume and realized my daughter had been using my amp and had both Brights clicked on and the High knobs max'ed at 10. I'm so used to all the dials on the left set just right and I only need to fiddle with the 6-band equalizer.
As much as I hate to admit it, I got to start using my glasses full time.
Thanks for all the helpful hints. Crunchy has been overthrown and Deep-defined returned to his throne as the rightful Heir.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by dtripoli

...daughter had been using my amp and had both Brights clicked on and the High knobs max'ed at 10...

That would do it!

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

The point wasn't about the level, it was about the tone.

Understood. He was talking about a "crunchy" tone, which I would usually associate with clipping.