SX P pups tone not even across strings?

dinghy · #1 10-07-2008, 10:18 PM

My A string seems more nasally and less punchy and full than the rest of the strings. I've checked all the other suspects, but the J pup (it's a PJ) doesn't have the problem, I can't hear it acoustically, and it's happened with 2 sets of strings, so I doubt it's the strings. I've tried lowering the pup but all it does is make it quieter, doesn't help the tone.

So I'm pretty sure it's the pup, but I don't even know why it's like this. The other string on the same pup sounds fine. I think I'm going to have to switch the pups out for some Fender MIM pups. Should I or should I try something else first?

king_xanadu · #2 10-07-2008, 10:21 PM

prehaps check the wiring

if you are new to that take it in to a store they will fix it right up (for around $15-$20) if thats the case

if not, its a good excuse for some new pickups, may i recommend Bartolini?

tapp01 · #3 10-07-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_xanadu

prehaps check the wiring

if you are new to that take it in to a store they will fix it right up (for around $15-$20) if thats the case

+1

If pup height is not the culprit then I agree with xanadu take it to a repair shop. Also, I don't think changing to a MIM P-pup is going to make a huge difference in overall tone. It's interesting my SX PJ does not have this problem, but I love the stock pups so I might be a little biased.

dinghy · #4 10-07-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_xanadu

prehaps check the wiring

if you are new to that take it in to a store they will fix it right up (for around $15-$20) if thats the case

if not, its a good excuse for some new pickups, may i recommend Bartolini?

I would like to be technically minded with instruments and work on my own whenever possible. What should I be looking for in the wiring?

Also the reason I said Fender MIMs is because I have a set lying around that was going to go into another bass but I might have to switch them around because I would use this bass more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tapp01

+1

If pup height is not the culprit then I agree with xanadu take it to a repair shop. Also, I don't think changing to a MIM P-pup is going to make a huge difference in overall tone. It's interesting my SX PJ does not have this problem, but I love the stock pups so I might be a little biased.

I wasn't really going to change it for the overall tone, I actually like the tone on 3/4 strings. Just my A string sounds off.

DavePlaysBass · #5 10-07-2008, 10:33 PM

Does the string action follow the radius of the neck? Could the A saddle be lower relative to the neck radius than the other 3 strings? What you describe sounds like a choked string from too little relief or too low of action. I guess I would also look at the bridge.

dinghy · #6 10-07-2008, 10:39 PM

Nope, I checked all that. The string is about the same angle and height at the bridge as the rest of them, and as I said it happened on the set before this too, the stock set. Although I didn't notice it as much, possibly because they were light gauge. The strings I'm using right now were on my ATK and strung through, so there is a little kink in the string where it curved at the bridge on the ATK. Could that have something to do with it?

craig.p · #7 10-08-2008, 07:35 PM

> it's happened with 2 sets of strings

Same brand & model both sets?

If so, is this this the 1st time you've used this brand & model?

If so, did the last (different) brand & model strings you used exhibit the same problem?

I have vague memories of using some brand strings where one string was *stronger* than the other ones, by about 2x (!) so I went back to Rotosounds. They were flatwounds but I just can't remember for certain who made them.

Another possibility is a bad run of A strings. Separated winding? Bad mettalurgy? Just guessing again.

What about temporarily putting the D string in place of the A string and seeing if it sounds as good as it does in its normal location. (Tuned as a D of course so you get apples to apples.) Same = string problem. Worse = pickup or something else.

dinghy · #8 10-09-2008, 08:33 PM

No, two totally separate sets of strings. Chinese light gauge vs. DR black beauties in medium gauge. I'll string moving some strings around though to see what's up.

edit: did so, and although it's pretty subtle I still think it's the pickup. The A string sounded fuller in the D spot, but the D string in the A spot didn't sound too bad, presumably because it's a smaller string so if it's nasallier I don't hear it as much.

Also I notice that the sound evens out pretty much when I do p and j on full. That shall be my temporary solution for now because it still sounds pretty close to the P only.