Volume inconsistency?

[Guz2]

My E and G strings are noticiably quieter than my A and D strings...This is probably because the pickups on my bass (Ibanez SR300) are shaped in a sort of semi-oval so that the edge strings are further away from the pickups than the centre strings...Is there any way to fix this, apart from getting new pickups?

[darkstorm]

Dont got that problem on mine. Suspects its your strings.

[Stealth]

Okay, if I checked the right bass, you've got soap-bar-shaped pickups there. Since you can't individually lift the edges alone, you might want to go the opposite way and try to lower the E and G strings towards the pickup. Try to see how curved the pickups are (probably the same as the fretboard) and try to set your string height to match that curve (so all strings are more or less equally away from the pickup). That should help you balance it somewhat.

[Guz2]

Thanks. Is there any way of damaging the bass by doing that?

[PJSShearer]

No

[Stealth]

Originally Posted by Guz2

Thanks. Is there any way of damaging the bass by doing that?

Not really, no. Just be aware that adjusting the string height on the bridge may - or may not - introduce some slight fret buzz because the strings now vibrate differently and might collide with the frets. Shouldn't be a major problem, but, go slowly and adjust carefully.

[Guz2]

Thanks guys

[maturanesa]

I set up the E and G strings a bit lower than A and D strings (following the curvature of the fretboard), and in this case, the curvature of the pickups too...