why does my cheap bass sound better?

cutmonkey · #1 02-12-2008, 03:26 PM

hi guys,

i'm new to the board and playing bass for the second time around. i got a cheap bass to kinda get myself back into the groove of playing again before spending some more cash on a better bass.

my cheap bass has the p/j pickup configuration. i really like the sound of it. clear, warm, and full. i decided to step up a bit and buy a used fender P with the standard P pickup configuration, but with a bassline pickup in rear position.

the fender doesn't sound that good to me. it's sounds a little buzzier, metallic, synthetic to me on the E string especially. it's not warm, clear and full...is it just me or is that the difference in tone between the pickup setups?

thoughts? i could really use the input.

Siegy · #2 02-12-2008, 03:31 PM

There could be a difference caused by the pup configuration. It could also be personal preference. Some Fenders are hit and miss, it could be that you got one of the bad ones.

It really could be a number of things.

GlennW · #3 02-12-2008, 04:56 PM

Different strings?

santucci218 · #4 02-12-2008, 04:57 PM

im having the same problem...and i just spent like 1400 on the good bass!

#include <MK> · #5 02-12-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutmonkey

my cheap bass has the p/j pickup configuration. i really like the sound of it. clear, warm, and full. i decided to step up a bit and buy a used fender P with the standard P pickup configuration, but with a bassline pickup in rear position.

the fender doesn't sound that good to me. it's sounds a little buzzier, metallic, synthetic to me on the E string especially. it's not warm, clear and full...is it just me or is that the difference in tone between the pickup setups?

thoughts? i could really use the input.

Are the pickups in the same location? Really, you can speculate endlessly about these things. You have something in your favour though, everything you need right there, so swap the electronics in both basses and make sure the setup is in order on both then test. Then, possibly post your findings here with the specs on both basses (eg. timber, hardware, nut), which may lead to something more interesting and not as vague as your original question.

badboy1984 · #6 02-12-2008, 05:08 PM

Type of string might be an issue as well.

I try used a set of Warwick STainless on my Fender Jazz REissue and it sound complete crap, didn't like it completely. But when i strung it to a set of LaBella flat and it play like dream.

air_leech · #7 02-12-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutmonkey

my cheap bass has the p/j pickup configuration. i really like the sound of it. clear, warm, and full. i decided to step up a bit and buy a used fender P with the standard P pickup configuration, but with a bassline pickup in rear position.

bartolini pup on the rear position? doesnt fit with it being a standard P configuration.

either way you'd better start experimenting with string types.
bad strings will sound bad on any bass (bad is subjective to the ear of the beholder

).

bassnug47 · #8 02-12-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by air_leech

bartolini pup on the rear position? doesnt fit with it being a standard P configuration.

either way you'd better start experimenting with string types.
bad strings will sound bad on any bass (bad is subjective to the ear of the beholder

).

who said it was a bartolini, it looks like he said BASSLINES!

sorry, im really anal about things like that.

luknfur · #9 02-12-2008, 05:51 PM

There are a myriad of variables that comprise tone and many have nothing to do with how much you pay for a bass. There's really nothing to keep a player from obtaining/creating a bass that is functionally equivalent (in fact superior) to a bass costing triple and up - if he knows what he's doing.

cutmonkey · #10 02-12-2008, 06:25 PM

sorry if i've confused anyone. perhaps i wasn't as clear as i should have been. the cheap base has the two standard rectangular pickups and the longer skinny one near the bridge. i understood that to be a p/j configuration. maybe i'm wrong.

the fender (more expensive bass) has just the two standard rectangular pickups that i've seen in the more traditional p bass setup. the one closest to the bridge is a bassline pickup. it looks like one pickup is changed..because only one of them has the baseline logo on it.

i originally thought it was strings, but then thought that 3rd pickup might be the real factor.

i'm open to thoughts.

thanks again guys

Ruoska · #11 02-12-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutmonkey

because only one of them has the baseline logo on it. i originally thought it was strings, but then thought that 3rd pickup might be the real factor.

You mean like this:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...b3_quarterpou/

In Duncan's passive P-pickups (SPB series) only one of them has the logo. Of course you can never know 101% before you actually take the pups apart and look, but I would say it's pretty certain both of them are the same and there is no "third pickup". Never heard of anyone changing only the other one and I guess it would yield less than optimal results.

air_leech · #12 02-13-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutmonkey

sorry if i've confused anyone. perhaps i wasn't as clear as i should have been. the cheap base has the two standard rectangular pickups and the longer skinny one near the bridge. i understood that to be a p/j configuration. maybe i'm wrong.

the fender (more expensive bass) has just the two standard rectangular pickups that i've seen in the more traditional p bass setup. the one closest to the bridge is a bassline pickup. it looks like one pickup is changed..because only one of them has the baseline logo on it.

i originally thought it was strings, but then thought that 3rd pickup might be the real factor.

i'm open to thoughts.

thanks again guys

what you call the front two pickups is actually one pickup of a split design.
that pickup is basically comprised of two seperate pickups (magnets, coils, bobbin - the whole enchelada X 2) each covering two strings and is refered to as the P pickup.
when soloed it has a thumpy, round tone with lots of mids which contribute to it's full sound.

the J pickup, the thinner of the two, has a single magnet, coil and bobbin.
when soloed in the bridge position it tends to introduce hum and has a growly tone with much more definition than the P pickup and an open top end.

where you pluck the strings also adds to the sound, play close to the bridge on the Fender P and youll get a sound less "P-ish".

randbguy · #13 02-13-2008, 08:44 AM

Hi cutmonkey, sometimes it's just the combinations of wood. I have a Toki Precision copy that has more mojo than most Fender p's I have tried. I hated the fact that it sounded better because I had Walnut Precision that looked beautiful and I thought it should have the nicest tone. I had to admit, it didn't sound as good and every one agreed. I had to scrape off the logo because in those days you couldn't be seen playing a knock off.

jrfrond · #14 02-13-2008, 09:03 AM

Forget about all of the hyperbole. It's all a matter of personal taste, and there are cheap basses that sound good, and expensive ones that sound, well, not so good. It's been my opinion, after playing music professionally for close to 40 years and being in the business of repairing and building guitars, basses, amps and drums, that the cost of an instrument is not necessarily an indicator of it's sound, usability, playability or viability. However, the issue of perceived value is what keeps the music industry in business.

JustOpenYourMind · #15 02-13-2008, 09:17 AM

For the p-bass sounding metallic, It may be because it as newer strings or stainless strings.

Try taking the strings of your old bass to your new one.

Or maybe you just like the Pj sound more than the P sound....

markdavid · #16 02-13-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutmonkey

hi guys,

i'm new to the board and playing bass for the second time around. i got a cheap bass to kinda get myself back into the groove of playing again before spending some more cash on a better bass.

my cheap bass has the p/j pickup configuration. i really like the sound of it. clear, warm, and full. i decided to step up a bit and buy a used fender P with the standard P pickup configuration, but with a bassline pickup in rear position.

the fender doesn't sound that good to me. it's sounds a little buzzier, metallic, synthetic to me on the E string especially. it's not warm, clear and full...is it just me or is that the difference in tone between the pickup setups?

thoughts? i could really use the input.

I suspect it may be the pickups, perhaps the previous owner has changed both of the pickups , not all replacement pickups have logos on them. Does the fender still sounder more metallic with the bridge pickup rolled off?. Or it may be the strings , you could string both basses with identical strings and see if there is the same differences in sound after the string change , if the fender still sounds more metallic and buzzy after the string change then its probably the pickups.
You didn't mention if it was an american or mexican fender , the pickups on the mexican fenders are not as good as on the american fenders and a lot of people swap them out because of this.