Balanced Vol output between both pickups

[redname]

Is it common practice to balance the Vol output of each pickup when soloed so tht it's the same?

I'm asking because I did tht and my neck pickup sounds thumpy, I'll need to blend more towards my bridge pickup for a tone I like better

So shld I lower the neck pups even thou it'll make the output on the neck pups lower?

 

[Wasnex]

Is it common practice to balance the Vol output of each pickup when soloed so tht it's the same?

I'm asking because I did tht and my neck pickup sounds thumpy, I'll need to blend more towards my bridge pickup for a tone I like better

So shld I lower the neck pups even thou it'll make the output on the neck pups lower?

I balance my pickups during setup. But when playing I blend towards one pickup or the other. With most basses I prefer if the neck pick is faded down a bit. However, with my #1 I prefer the bridge pickup to be faded down a bit.

If you think the tone is better with the pickups lower, then go for it. It's not necessarily right or wrong...could be the difference between designer intent and what you prefer.

The first priority for me when setting pickup height is getting it out of the way enough to play.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Can lower neck pickup for sound you want
Then lower bridge to match volume output
May have to adjust gain a tad

 

[Killing Floor]

Take the middle pot on a VVT setup and rewire it to Volume Blend Tone. There’s no right or wrong way to design a bass but to me that just works.

 

[walterw]

Is it common practice to balance the Vol output of each pickup when soloed so tht it's the same?

I'm asking because I did tht and my neck pickup sounds thumpy, I'll need to blend more towards my bridge pickup for a tone I like better

what kind of bass with what kind of pickups?

it's kind of meaningless to answer without knowing that

 

[redname]

what kind of bass with what kind of pickups?

it's kind of meaningless to answer without knowing that

J bass with J size noiseless blade pickups

 

[walterw]

J bass with J size noiseless blade pickups

OK so basically the same kind of pickups neck and bridge?

in that case yes, you want them to be about the same volume when each is solo'ed

the bridge will be brighter and twangier while the neck will be bassier but you want the overall loudness to be about the same; that means the bridge pickup will sit closer to the strings while the neck pickup is further away, especially on the bass side

 

[Nebadon2000]

OK so basically the same kind of pickups neck and bridge?

in that case yes, you want them to be about the same volume when each is solo'ed

the bridge will be brighter and twangier while the neck will be bassier but you want the overall loudness to be about the same; that means the bridge pickup will sit closer to the strings while the neck pickup is further away, especially on the bass side

I have Fender Ultra Precision; The P split coil had a lower output than J single coil when using Fender Suggestions 8/64 Bass side and 6/64 Treble side [for noiseless vintage pickups] sounded fine with P full passive or active but full blend was a tad bright and thin.

So I adjusted pickups for perceived equal volume Full P, Full J and Full blend
Ended up P pickup 6/64 and 4/64; J 7/64 and 5/64[J was 8/64 & 6/64 until I got upgraded Ultra Precision Split Coil; that's another story]

Also I set gain in Passive and lower Active EQ controls [Bass, Mid, Treble] to about 10 O'clock so there is no perceived volume difference when I switch Passive to Active

Since I never use EQ controls in large swings just subtle adjustments; maybe bring Active EQ back to Noon for Volume boost if needed in Song without overloading input[just a little blinking]

PS; My action is 5/64 & 4/64 in relation to pickup height