.068 vs .1 caps- 2 basses same pickups- one's brighter than the other

[Pbman]

Thoughts please-

2 bass's- both with Rosewood necks

Bass 1- Fender 2023 AVRI Series 2 (Alder) P bass stock with PV 60's- .1 PV white cap

Bass 2- Starr Guitars- Ash Body- with PV 60's- .068 mylar cap

The Series 2 has more detail in the high end when the treble is open all the way. Not with the Ash. Ash sounds duller when opened up.

Will the .1 in the Ash open that up too?

Thanks!

 

[ctmullins]

I doubt it.

• 0.1 will roll off more of the spectrum than 0.068
• Neither will matter a bit when the tone knob is dimed
• Every bass is a unique combination of all of its components, adjustments, and manufacturing tolerances; generalizations can be misleading

Play the two basses unamplified, in a quiet room. Listen to the differences in their inherent tones. That’s the baseline you’re working from.

 

[CoughSyrup]

Both have the exact same strings that are the exact same age?

 

[StayLow]

Both have the exact same strings that are the exact same age?

And the exact same distance between strings and pickup poles, swapping necks each time, factoring for 20% variations being considered “within tolerance” even if the caps were the same brand, material composition, etc. etc. etc.

My thoughts are fact: they’re two different basses with the “same” pickups… which could have different resistance values so not actually be the “same”.

 

[LoveThatBass]

This is just my experience and not all will agree but as your rolling off the tone pot with .1uf the sound is just duller than with a smaller value (example say 50 percent whatever). My preferred value for bass is .047uf.

 

[Bitterdale]

Sounds like a good candidate for a no-load tone pot.

 

[sikamikanico]

No load tone pot, or higher resistance pots, could work. Even if they have the same resistance pots (250k is typical), tolerance could mean actual resistance is quite different.

other than that, I don’t think electronics have much to do with the difference. I presume pickups are much more consistent these days, but that’s another option of course…

but at the end of the day, that each bass as a different beast, and work with its strengths and weaknesses. String them and set them up in a way that makes each one shine. No need to have two that sound the same…

 

[Pbman]

And the exact same distance between strings and pickup poles, swapping necks each time, factoring for 20% variations being considered “within tolerance” even if the caps were the same brand, material composition, etc. etc. etc.

My thoughts are fact: they’re two different basses with the “same” pickups… which could have different resistance values so not actually be the “same”.

 

[Pbman]

Both have the exact same strings that are the exact same age?

Yes same, Labella LT Flats

 

[Pbman]

No load tone pot, or higher resistance pots, could work. Even if they have the same resistance pots (250k is typical), tolerance could mean actual resistance is quite different.

other than that, I don’t think electronics have much to do with the difference. I presume pickups are much more consistent these days, but that’s another option of course…

but at the end of the day, that each bass as a different beast, and work with its strengths and weaknesses. String them and set them up in a way that makes each one shine. No need to have two that sound the same…

I tried bypassing both pots. I went on and off with them in and out of the circuit , no difference.

 

[Pbman]

I guess it is what it is. Don't get me wrong it's a beauty but the AV2 sounds like my 63. I would of liked more detail in the touch. You can't fight Mother Nature.

 

[ctmullins]

Yes same, Labella LT Flats

And you want more treble detail?

Hmmmm

 

[sheltjo6]

Thoughts please-

2 bass's- both with Rosewood necks

Bass 1- Fender 2023 AVRI Series 2 (Alder) P bass stock with PV 60's- .1 PV white cap

Bass 2- Starr Guitars- Ash Body- with PV 60's- .068 mylar cap

The Series 2 has more detail in the high end when the treble is open all the way. Not with the Ash. Ash sounds duller when opened up.

Will the .1 in the Ash open that up too?

Thanks!

As others have mentioned, either bypass the pots or replace them with a higher value pot: 500k or 1M.
See if that brightens up the tone.

 

[Pbman]

As others have mentioned, either bypass the pots or replace them with a higher value pot: 500k or 1M.
See if that brightens up the tone.

I could try that , thanks!

 

[Pbman]

I could try that , thanks!

Would I be able to that simply with a 500k resistor as far as a test?

Do both pots have to change?

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

Are the pickup locations identical?

 

[Pbman]

yes, p bass location

 

[Grinderman]

And the exact same distance between strings and pickup poles, swapping necks each time, factoring for 20% variations being considered “within tolerance” even if the caps were the same brand, material composition, etc. etc. etc.

My thoughts are fact: they’re two different basses with the “same” pickups… which could have different resistance values so not actually be the “same”.

Case in point, quoting myself from this other thread about Roto 77 flats.

OP subject: "Rotosound 77 flats - do they mellow over time?"

Of course, they do. All strings mellow over time.

I've had one set of 45-105 77 flats on a P bass for about 15 months—and a second set of the same kind of flats on another P bass for about 4 months. No noted unusual overtones to speak of.

Context:

Both P basses have SD Antiquity (AlNiCo 2) pickups. These two P basses don't sound as much the same as may be assumed.

The output to an OE Cali 76 CB comp set for a driven, percussive, lively & fat dynamics and sound before an Ampeg SVT set flat or close to flat (800 Hz mid frequency).

Additional context:

Both P basses have a .1 cap.

P Bass A (4-month-old Roto 77s) is ash body, 1-pc maple neck.

P Bass B (15-month-old 77s) is alder body (1-1/2" thin), 2-pc roasted maple and slab rosewood.

The sounds of P bass A & B are in somewhat the same realm, that shouldn't be too surprising because of personal preference. They're familiar, but they're individually audibly recognizable; they're not redundant duplicates.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Thoughts please-

2 bass's- both with Rosewood necks

Bass 1- Fender 2023 AVRI Series 2 (Alder) P bass stock with PV 60's- .1 PV white cap

Bass 2- Starr Guitars- Ash Body- with PV 60's- .068 mylar cap

The Series 2 has more detail in the high end when the treble is open all the way. Not with the Ash. Ash sounds duller when opened up.

Will the .1 in the Ash open that up too?

Thanks!

This is a kind of an off the wall comment, but I’m more interested in what I can get out of an instrument than what I can’t. In general, I find tonal differences between two instruments a benefit.

But, If I were on a gig and my bass goes out of commission, then having to adjust my signal path to accommodate the tonal differences of a different bass, this would be a problem for me.

Hope your situation resolves soon.

 

[Geogio]

Sounds like a good candidate for a no-load tone pot.

I was thinking wide open. Caps are cheap, go for it. If you don't like it... it's soldering 101 time, or get CTS pots... you'll be glad you did.