Better sound for my P bass

Scott Sauna · #1 06-12-2013, 10:11 PM

So I have a Squier VM p bass. It has D'addario flats on it but it isn't working with the grungy music we are playing.

I play clean without distortion. I guess the bass sound needs to sound a bit more like a jazz and less woody.

Would a change of strings or pickups fix this? The sound is way too woody for me and I would really like to make my p bass a rock machine.

Also: I have the vintage modified p with the maple neck and it tends to be too warm on the 7-20 frets on the E string.

droo46 · #2 06-12-2013, 10:13 PM

For grunge P bass should be fine. What you need is some fuzz and a set of roundwounds. I think those two things should get the sound you're after or at least get you closer to what you want.

PazzoBasso · #3 06-12-2013, 10:13 PM

you need a Jazz

spaz21387 · #4 06-12-2013, 10:14 PM

try roundwound strings. maybe stainless steel ones.

Scott Sauna · #5 06-12-2013, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droo46

For grunge P bass should be fine. What you need is some fuzz and a set of roundwounds. I think those two things should get the sound you're after or at least get you closer to what you want.

My bandleader is against fuzz as am I. At least for this kind of music that goes between psychadelic and grunge. I don't like the sound of it as much as most people.

I would really like to try rounds again but I spent a lot on the flats to just be unsatisfied...

totallyfrozen · #6 06-12-2013, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Sauna

...Would a change of strings or pickups fix this?...

Both could help. Get an EQ pedal. And throw some dirt on that bad boy too! Lots of good fuzz pedals out there that work great with bass.

Scott Sauna · #7 06-12-2013, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by totallyfrozen

Both could help. Get an EQ pedal. And throw some dirt on that bad boy too! Lots of good fuzz pedals out there that work great with bass.

Recommend any pickups? Or roundwounds? If I got a pedal, it would have to be pretty low priced and reliable!

Scott Sauna · #8 06-12-2013, 10:37 PM

This song in particular is very hard to replicate tone-wise with my p bass. Which is a bit of a problem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IqxVO71YV4

landau roof · #9 06-12-2013, 11:25 PM

^Dear lord those vocals are dry during the intro.

smeet · #10 06-12-2013, 11:34 PM

Try these:
Play with a pick.
Pick near the bridge.
Different strings (Chromes or roundwounds).
Distortion or EQ.

My precision played with a pick, with Chromes through a Darkglass B7K can get that sound.

extreme · #11 06-12-2013, 11:39 PM

Trying rolling off the bass on your amp and pushing mids. You should be able to get a gnarly sound even with the flats if you're plucking hard near the bridge.

Scott Sauna · #12 06-13-2013, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extreme

Trying rolling off the bass on your amp and pushing mids. You should be able to get a gnarly sound even with the flats if you're plucking hard near the bridge.

I have tried pushing some mids and taking away bass but what about the tone knob? Should I stay wide open or set it down a bit?

BornboreD · #13 06-13-2013, 01:42 AM

Open up the tone knob, and throw some rounds on it. Dig in. Set your amp EQ flat with a bump in the mids.

Duckwater · #14 06-13-2013, 02:09 AM

If I need a grindier tone with my flats I use a small guitar amp on top of whatever else I'm going through, I dial it to add a layer of slightly overdriven upper midrange on top of my clean sound. It's awesome.

39-Bassist · #15 06-17-2013, 02:34 PM

I have the same type of taste in sounds and I found when I changed out my pickups and used a slightly heavier bridge it made the tones just work. I put on round wounds, a Leo Quann II and Duncan SPB-1, just to give you an idea...good luck...Oh yeah and your technique of how you play makes a huge difference too.

Nobody · #16 06-17-2013, 02:43 PM

A P bass with flats works perfectly for every genre without fail especially if it has a tort pick guard...... just kiddin'

Ditch the flats and get some rounds, play with a pick, cheap and easy fix.

MMatFoCBass · #17 06-17-2013, 02:43 PM

Go to DHGate

Buy the Joyo "Ultimate Drive"

I bought one and they sent me two. (Gave the other to a friend)

Great tone but when playing with an electric guitar it seems like you lose sustain. Didn't have that problem with my bass though.

Bought the pedal(s) for 25 dollars with free shipping. Came within the month.

shirojiro · #18 06-17-2013, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Sauna

This song in particular is very hard to replicate tone-wise with my p bass. Which is a bit of a problem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IqxVO71YV4

At least through the laptop speakers, that sounds like the bassist is using a pick with a decent attack. I also agree that a touch of dirt in the tone will help get that tone.

It's definitely doable with a P bass and flats. Dime the tone control, and dig in with a pick. I'd favor the bridge side of the pickup.

skidmarkbass · #19 06-17-2013, 02:57 PM

Eden WTDI help my pbass all the time

bassgod0dmw · #20 06-17-2013, 03:26 PM

Get rounds, save yourself that hassle of trying all these different things only to find out that a simple set a strings will give you what you're looking for. It's MUCH cheaper than buying a pedal.

P bass Rock Machine = Rounds

I'd go nickel over stainless, it's my preference for P basses (and only P basses). They give it a punchy & fat tone. Play them with a pick and you get a growly sort of tone as well. I use D'Addario nickel's on my P's.

$13.45...or a two pack for $21.85.
http://www.bassstringsonline.com/DAd...-Set_p_81.html