Let’s just say I wish I had looked up ideas like are being mentioned here…it wasn’t fun! Ha!
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Artcore Club
- Thread starter elroyjetsn
- Start date
I also want to say…I’ve seen people say that they didn’t like the original pickups in these. I would absolutely suggest changing the pots before changing the pickups. The pickups are great, and a potentiometer change made a really big difference
Ugh… I tried playing my AFB200 at practice and there was no clarity. Not sure if it’s the flats on there or what. It sounds pretty solo, but just hides in a mix. Anyone else having this issue?
I had to switch to my Sire V3 to hear myself. I want to like my AFB…
I had to switch to my Sire V3 to hear myself. I want to like my AFB…
Yeah. I’ve played it at home with a friend. Him on piano. Even there I had to turn up. But at a place with IEMs I’m kinda at the mercy of the sound guy. I can adjust some in my ears, but not enough. J style bass cuts through though.
As much as it would pain me to take off expensive imported strings, I’d love it if that fixed it.
I had an Artcore bass years ago -- I forget what the model number was at the time -- that I also felt was underpowered. It just didn't have enough guts for the gigs I was playing. But at the time, I didn't know much about pickups, strings, etc.
I suppose you could try a volume boost pedal, but that would be an additional expense and gear you'd have to get.
We've got a few TBers who can probably advise you on solutions. I imagine they'll chime in soon.
I suppose you could try a volume boost pedal, but that would be an additional expense and gear you'd have to get.
We've got a few TBers who can probably advise you on solutions. I imagine they'll chime in soon.
Well volume isn’t an issue. I use a Trickfish minnow and it pushes a strong signal out the DI. Which could be part of the issue since the sound guy has to pull me back compared to a passive DI that’s on the stage. Either way it’s the same variables with just a different bass and I can hear with the j bass.
I'll probably expose my ignorance as a relative newbie, but my understanding is that mids play a large role in how well a bass can be heard in a mix. Can you tweak the EQ to see if that helps?
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,006
- 1
- 31,701
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Tapes or Pressure wound rounds. More clarity and definition and not as much squeak as regular round wounds. Don’t ‘fret’ over it. Easy remedy.
The problem with this is that playing it solo by yourself you may not like the sound. However, similar situations like this happen with all basses. Sounds great solo at home and sounds like shizz or doesn’t cut through in a band setting. I mostly like flats on short scale. However, I own an AGB140 with tapes that really puts a smile on my face. Granted it’s long scale, but it’s semi-hollow and has the same pups.
But again, I only play at home solo, so the same scenario may result for me if I tried it in a band setting.
You won’t know until you try. Strings are the quickest, cheapest and easiest way to possibly solve this perceived ‘issue’.
I say perceived only because bassist like Jack Bruce and Felix Pappalardi both had really muddy sounding basses in Cream and Mountain respectively and they were both fine with it.
Did you have anyone in an audience area to give you feedback on the sound of your bass? What it sounds like on stage to you is not the same as what it sounds like in the audience.
Not arguing with you, just trying to help you out and ease your frustration and find a possible simple solution.
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There are soooooo many factors to working with a bass to get it where you want it….types of string, pickup height, neck setup, string action…etc…. Also, a bass does what it does. A J bass is made to be tight and pointy to sit in or on top of a mix or band…a short scale semi hollow body bass will never do that. It already has less harmonic content just by being a short scale. That means a warmer, less defined sound from the start. Try to raise the pickups on your Ibanez and put some TI flats for more midrange, or go straight to roundwounds for more clarity
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Thanks for all the replies, and yes I know how to do a good setup. The pickups are a lot closer than when I bought it.
B-Mac to your question, yes they heard it in the room and it sounds good. The issue is it’s not clear in my IEM. Therefore I screw up because I can’t hear myself. I could push the mids, but at that point I was a little annoyed and just swapped back.
And yeah I know the strings are the easiest swap, but the AFB is somewhere between medium scale and long scale for what fits - which is not many. And to be fair, the strings sound beautiful, but it just seems to want more space in the mix instead of a bunch of instruments filling every gap. I posted on this thread about string length and what I chose, mostly to help lurkers wondering what fits.
Hope I'm in the right place;
1. I have an AGB140 Semihollowbody. I needs a set up, frets buzz on the first 5 or so frets, any one can lean me to a set up guide? I have no problems and lots of experience with Fender solid bodies.
2. If you're looking for as form-fitting Ibanez, TCL, case,, I found out mom&pop stores can give you a good deal if you give them a chance - I called West Music, in Coraville IA, Matt, 800-397-9378, and got one for $159.99, no tax no shipping. GC, MF and Sweetwater - $199.99 -$232.99, no budge. For my Paranormal Jazz Bass I called Yandis Music, Online Musical Instrument Store | Buy Instruments Online 308-234-1970- and on-line made an offer they accepted, less than MF. Both good M&_ stores with huge selections.
Anyway I would like to either attempt sett up, or find a good Tech in Phoenix - my tech left.
1. I have an AGB140 Semihollowbody. I needs a set up, frets buzz on the first 5 or so frets, any one can lean me to a set up guide? I have no problems and lots of experience with Fender solid bodies.
2. If you're looking for as form-fitting Ibanez, TCL, case,, I found out mom&pop stores can give you a good deal if you give them a chance - I called West Music, in Coraville IA, Matt, 800-397-9378, and got one for $159.99, no tax no shipping. GC, MF and Sweetwater - $199.99 -$232.99, no budge. For my Paranormal Jazz Bass I called Yandis Music, Online Musical Instrument Store | Buy Instruments Online 308-234-1970- and on-line made an offer they accepted, less than MF. Both good M&_ stores with huge selections.
Anyway I would like to either attempt sett up, or find a good Tech in Phoenix - my tech left.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,006
- 1
- 31,701
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Set up is balancing several different things - neck relief, saddle height, intonation, etc.
Without knowing "the rest of the story", I would suggest slightly loosening your truss rod, which will increase neck relief.
This is why I ended up learning a lot of basic luthier skills. Guitar Center put the mom n pop stores out of business years ago, and now it’s hard to find a decent tech.
I find I can set up my P and Jazz solid-bodies real well, I just follow the Fender set up guide, Jack Schwarz, Dr Feelgood, then tweak the string height as i play pretty light anyway. Probably the same dimensions on the semi-hollow - think I'll try that, haven't taken any measurements yet. The Fenders are so easy; just wood and wires, take temp/humidity changes well, great for traveling.
Did you ever find a perfectly fitting case for your ASB140?
I did. The Epiphone Jack Casady case.
Also, the no name version from Yorkville is a perfect fit. Same case, just no Epiphone Graphic.
Nice and snug. Yorkville YBC-4HJC Jack Casady Bass Case
Just got mine from Fleet Pro Sound and Lighting in Canada.
Better late than never.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed fleetsound.com
I did. The Epiphone Jack Casady case.
Also, the no name version from Yorkville is a perfect fit. Same case, just no Epiphone Graphic.
Nice and snug. Yorkville YBC-4HJC Jack Casady Bass Case
Just got mine from Fleet Pro Sound and Lighting in Canada.
Better late than never.
Invalid Link Removed
Yorkville YBC-4HJC Jack Casady Bass Case
Details Instrument Acoustic Bass Length 50.00 inches (127.00 cm) Lower Bout 16.00 inches (40.64 cm) Upper Bout 12.50 inches (31.75 cm) Depth 3.50 inches (8.89 cm) Handle Plastic Arched Top No NOTE: Measurements listed are internal case dimensions. Features:• Five Ply Cross-Laminate Wood...Invalid Link Removed fleetsound.com
UpdateDid you ever find a perfectly fitting case for your ASB140?
I did. The Epiphone Jack Casady case.
Also, the no name version from Yorkville is a perfect fit. Same case, just no Epiphone Graphic.
Nice and snug. Yorkville YBC-4HJC Jack Casady Bass Case
Just got mine from Fleet Pro Sound and Lighting in Canada.
Better late than never.
Yorkville YBC-4HJC Jack Casady Bass Case
Details Instrument Acoustic Bass Length 50.00 inches (127.00 cm) Lower Bout 16.00 inches (40.64 cm) Upper Bout 12.50 inches (31.75 cm) Depth 3.50 inches (8.89 cm) Handle Plastic Arched Top No NOTE: Measurements listed are internal case dimensions. Features:• Five Ply Cross-Laminate Wood...
fleetsound.com
