Advice, please.

[shadowtippy]

I've got an Ibanez GR that I can't seem to get a good sound from. The best way to describe it is" "flat." I've tried rounds and flats on it, but I can't dial in a sound that I like. It is the only bass I have that has active pups and it is also the only one that doesn't "growl" or "sing". It has a great feel and very low action, so it should be a pleasure to play, if I could only get it to somehow "grow a pair." Thanks for any advice.

 

[J. Crawford]

I've got an Ibanez GR that I can't seem to get a good sound from. The best way to describe it is" "flat." I've tried rounds and flats on it, but I can't dial in a sound that I like. It is the only bass I have that has active pups and it is also the only one that doesn't "growl" or "sing". It has a great feel and very low action, so it should be a pleasure to play, if I could only get it to somehow "grow a pair." Thanks for any advice.

Flats are definitely a no-no if you want lots of growl and crunch.

Buy some bright rounds, Marcus Miller sigs or something. That should help.

 

[makanudo]

growl is all about mids and lows am i right?

 

[Grissle]

Some Rotosound's and an active/passive switch and maybe different pickups, in that order but one at a time is what I would do. Maybe strings will do it, or maybe strings + passive, (if its possible with your electronics) or it might take all three changes?

 

[David Jayne]

Try wiring the pickups direct to the jack- see if that's better. I'll bet the preamp is sucking away tone by the bucketload.
If I'm right, you could then wire it up like a Jazz bass and be a happy camper.

 

[Korladis]

growl is all about mids and lows am i right?

No, I usually get it by boosting mids and highs. I cut lows.

 

[Relayer71]

Do you mean "GSR"?

I've read many times that the GSRs are pretty good basses as far as build quality for the price but the preamps suck big time. Pretty much what you described about the sound needing to "grow a pair", lol.