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3 Pickup Bass Phase Issue Questions
- Thread starter JEDI BASS
- Start date
I can’t wait to hear the outcome. I’m sure it will be good ,the neck lipstick pup when combined w the P is really good punchy and very present. I love this platform. It is one heavy bass though.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,002
- 1
- 31,691
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
I’m still perplexed.
- P and neck L = good sound
- P and bridge L = thin wimpy sound
- Bridge L solo = good sound
How do the two lipsticks sound together, without the P?
Or should I wait for your recordings?
You are correct. But, I’ll add:
- P and neck L = good sound
- P and bridge L = horribly thin sound
- P + both L = thin- not as bad as P+ Br L
- Neck L solo = good sound
- P solo = good sound
- Br L solo = good sound
I called Carl earlier. He said the best fix is a phase switch for the bridge Lipstick. A phase switch on my active mixer pedal would flip the phase coming in from one of my bass’ 2 outputs and would not help the P + both lipstick’s thinness.
I’ve done a lot more reading, and with the input here, I’ve gotten way more understanding of what’s going on. I feel confident that I can fix the issue. I just have to find the real estate on the bass to install the phase switch.
As for sound clips, they would be a waste of time for me and anyone trying to listen. The quality of the recording would be poor and would only show exactly what was stated above.
When I get the phase switch installed, I’ll be sending the bass to Lowendlobster who will do a very high quality clip for his YouTube channel. He has the recording ability and experience to do the bass justice.
Thanks everyone for the input and help! I’ll post when I finish the install and let everyone know how it turned out.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,002
- 1
- 31,691
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,002
- 1
- 31,691
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Based on your descriptions, the bridge L is already out of phase with the neck L, and also out of phase with the P.
So yes, swapping the leads on the bridge L should bring it in phase with the other two pickups.
The out of phase might be happening at the toggle switch. You might be crossed there.
I probably didn't make it clear, sorry. The lipstick pickups (with no P pickup at all: volume at zero or no cable in the P output jack) sound great together w/ no phase issue. There's only the expected volume drop when you go from soloing one pickup to centering the balance control= no biggie and the EMG ABC minimizes it.
After talking again with Carl, I confirmed 100% that the bridge pickup is out of phase with the P pickup. So, when the P is being used in any combination with the bridge lipstick, the result is not great. Carl knew this and tried reversing the wires on the pickups to leave the neck L out of phase, and then the bridge L out of phase. He settled on the best sounding outcome.
I found a switch locally and will be looking at options for placement later.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,002
- 1
- 31,691
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Are you using two cables and two outputs. One for the lipsticks and one for the P?
And how does the balance control figure into the system? I think, without seeing this, is there is a polarity issue between the balance and you two output system of things, as a guess. With mine, I don't have that problem but I don't have a balance control involved, just a volume for each pick up.
Then the P will not be in phase with the neck lipstick. One of the lipsticks has to get a phase switch. It seems there's no way around it, if I want to ever have the versatility of using all of the possible pickup combination.
With the way the pickups and controls are laid out, and the very limited amount of space under the chrome plate, it would be much easier for me to put the phase switch on the neck lipstick where the wires run under the two mini pots that are the P volume and tone controls. And, then switch the bridge pickup wires so that it's the one that's always in phase with the P.
I think that will be what I try first.
Well, Maxspinrun and I tested the bass through 2 rigs (1 for each output)when it was still all passive and had a lipstick pickup 3-way selector switch. Of course, with 2 rigs there was no phase problem. I modified it with the EMG BTC HZ for the lipsticks and removed the switch, and gave the P a tone pot. Read my original post for all that. I've played that setup through 2 rigs with no issue also. Then my 2 channel active mixer pedal came, and I had my first attempt at playing all three pickups (and all combinations) through the same amp. And BOOM, there's that phase issue rearing its ugly head, just like it did for Carl at Lakland.
So, the ABC has nothing to do with it.
I apologize if I'm suggesting something you've already tried, but I'm having a bit of trouble following all the suggestions and responses in this thread. Before you take the step of drilling another hole and adding a phase switch, have you tried reversing the phase of that one pickup, and playing all three together? Just to be sure that the phase switch would solve for the "all three on at once" scenario?
I'm still as confused as everyone else about why you even have this issue in the first place. There are lots of 3-pickup guitars out there (even some with one humbucker and two single coils!) with the capability to combine all three pickups and/or various combinations of two at once without needing a phase switch.
I'm still as confused as everyone else about why you even have this issue in the first place. There are lots of 3-pickup guitars out there (even some with one humbucker and two single coils!) with the capability to combine all three pickups and/or various combinations of two at once without needing a phase switch.
