A more defined sounding P-bass. HOW?

[Arthur U. Poon]

My MIA Standard P-Bass had a murky, undefined low end when I bought it. I replaced it's stock pickup with a Nordstrand NP4, which "cleaned up" it's low end quite a bit.

Whenever I read someone is looking for more mids from a P-Bass, my first thought is DiMarzio Model P.

And in retrospect, I think I'd like my P-Bass even more had I went with the Model P over the NP4. The NP4 IMO is more of a vintage correct replacement pickup, and it's great, whereas the Model P is more aggressive sounding, with souped up mids. It's a nasty-ass P-Style pickup that snarls.

 

[2luvthebass]

Try plucking/picking a little closer to the bridge for increased definition.

... and technique! (like: plucking closer to the bridge, or adjusting the height of the pickups)

this is the second post from you on this thread that I've read so far. And you're the only one who mentioned technique opposed to a piece of gear. I agree with you a 110%. The biggest tone maker is how we play the bass.

 

[JustSomeDude]

Another angle to this...
Turn off your volume and play and listen acoustically to hear what the bass sounds like.
You can compensate with everything else but if you start with definition, it is way easier to get it down the chain.

When I bought my PBass, there wasn't an amp ready to plug into. I played it without one for a bit and immediately knew it would sound good.

You an also clearly hear the tone differences from your fingers from where and how you are picking.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

While a P isn't perfect for everybody,

BUMPING BACK TO LIFE !! WHAT, not perfect for everybody !!!!

 

[Marko 1]

Ridiculous thread and mostly ridiculous responses, just throwing money at something that's clearly user error.

Something is wrong somewhere, but it's not a P bass.

 

[devnulljp]

If you're getting lost in the mix, it's the soundguy's fault. All those buttons on the desk are there for a reason.

 

[droo46]

I played a festival over the summer with a shared backline (SVT 4x10 cab). The bass in the band before us sounded really muddy and indistinct. When I got up and started making my adjustments, I found that he was running too much bass and not enough of anything else. Definitely not the sound engineers fault on that one.

 

[Runlikegregg]

A new pickup will help.
Maybe something a little more modern sounding.
I love my Lollar.
Lot's of people like Fralins or EMG's.
That and a bump in mids ought to do it!

 

[GreyBeard]

How do you set the EQ on your amp?

 

[roswell1965]

Ridiculous thread and mostly ridiculous responses, just throwing money at something that's clearly user error.

Ridiculous is right; it took until post #39 for someone to even suggest a pickup height adjustment, and it's been mentioned only one or twice in the 110 posts that followed. Silly.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I hope the thread starter figured it out 8 1/2 years ago.

 

[ElectricBass72]

The answer: super bright stainless steel strings

 

[B-Mac]

Hello everyone, I am sure you bass brothers can help me out on my mission. This is driving me insane.

I have an american 1978 P-bass. I bought it without it's original pickups and I mounted Fender Original (the 1962 re-issue).

This p-bass sounds deeper and warmer than any other vintage bass circa 1978 that I've tried which is great for acoustic situations but when it comes to full band stuff (especially if piano or keys are in the band) there's no clarity in the sound and the bass (live and especially in studio) doesn't cut right through the mix.

Any solutions? I have tried a '74 Fender jazz and sounded marvellous but I'm never gonna have 2K for it, so I gotta work out a way to make my P-bass sound clear. If it helps, I play mainly light rock, blues, pop and a bit of funk and reggae.

I am open to any solution (putting a bridge pickup is the least of them all).

- Would making it active give me that little push and brightness/clarity on the lower frequencies that I need? Would it be possible to install a switch so I could switch between active/passive?

- Would a different capacitor make the difference in the sound I am looking for?

- Try another pickup? (I find really hard to hear the actual "wood" sound out of this bass unless I plug it through a mixer but then I lose a lot of punch - Before this Fender Original I had a Di Marzio Billy Sheehan and it made my bass sound real boomy. I had some EMG on my Jazz model of a Lakland and they were really warm but not boomy,is it the same for EMGs for P-basses?)

- Maybe something way simpler like try a particular kind/brand of strings (I use Ernie Ball 45-100)?

PS: Buying a balaclava and a fake gun to go and get that '74 Jazz is not considered a solution...yet.

Feel free to laugh at me and thank you very much guys!
Kelpie

Nickel Rounds