Pickup Volume? Squier P-Bass vs Ibanez Ergodyne

[Sp3ktral]

ok so i just recently aquired a Squier Affinity P Bass. my buddy had it laying around and said I could have it!
after removing all the paint, reassembling and setting up the bass I finally got to play it for the first time yesterday! (I got the bass in pieces from the dude)

well after playing around a bit and switching back and forth between the p-bass and the ergo it became very apparent the volume on the p-bass was significantly louder than the ergodyne.

just a quick run down of electronics:
p-bass = standard p pickup...presumably squier "brand" factory pickups
ergodyne = 2 ibanez humbuckers for 5 strings. 3 band active eq system and blend knob

It just doesn't make any sense to me why the p bass would be louder....anyone care to explain?! or have theories on how i can get the ibanez louder? (no mods..)

[Sp3ktral]

nothing?

sorry if it's a stupid question...

[PauliePower]

The simple answer is: it just is. I know exactly what you mean though, I've got a very cheap Yamaha that is far louder than everything else I own. There probably is some sort of scientific reason, but I asked on here as well and the general consensus was to just accept it.

If you want to make the P-bass a bit quieter, try screwing the pickup down into the body a bit. I noticed my BC Rich (with P-style pickup) got significantly louder after lowering the action recently, due to the strings being closer to the pickup. I suppose you could try raising the pickups on your Ibanez and seeing if that makes a difference.

[Sp3ktral]

well, i guess i'll experiment with pickup height then.

thanks for the info!

[therex]

pup height could help with balancing the volume also are you using new strings on the squier? because new strings are more trebly and louder