Consistent tone across the strings

[peterbolt]

Hi guys,
I’m having an issue with the 4th string on my MIJ Jazz Bass.
The open E sounds a bit hollow and “twangy” compared to the other strings.
I’ve attached three clips (neck / bridge / both pickups, tone fully open). Maybe it’s just me, but it feels unbalanced.
The clips were recorded straight into an Audient ID14 (DI input).
Sorry for the sloppy playing.
The bass is a 1985 MIJ with Model J pickups, currently strung with Fender Vintage Nickel 45–100s (about halfway through their life). I also tried Elixir Steel 45–105s, but the E string sounded even hollower — and the effect extended to the other strings as well.
What I’m aiming for is a simple, precise tone with clear fundamentals, not too bright in the highs and consistent across the strings.
What would you suggest?

• Different strings?
• Adjusting pickup height?
• Or could it just be the nature of this particular bass

THanks a lot

 

[JonathanPDX]

How is your right hand technique? Are you confident that you are using exactly the same angle, attack, position, and pressure when plucking across all 4 strings? I often see people pluck their E string with a different attack (because it's easier to leverage toward the thumb) and then get a different tone as a result.

 

[peterbolt]

Hi and thanks for your reply.
I have allo tried surgically plucking with a pick and the difference is still there

 

[39-Bassist]

Do you have any pics of the bass to see the setup of pickup and maybe a short video of how you are playing? A few factors needed. Just asking.

 

[LowTorque]

It could be a number of things. That particular set of strings, set-up, technique, or the bass. You need to eliminate one thing at a time.

 

[blr2]

Yes, pictures will be helpful. Show the angle at the bridge and nut.

 

[Nuisance]

I would start by making sure you aren't putting a twist in the string when you string it up. If you are winding the string around the post with your fingers (instead of turning the tuners) this can happen.

 

[micguy]

You don’t say whst your rig is. One of the unfortunate truths is that the speakers in bass rigs don’t reproduce the lowest fundamentals of a 4 string bass guitar. That is part of the situation here, perhaps most of it.

 

[LowTorque]

You don’t say whst your rig is. One of the unfortunate truths is that the speakers in bass rigs don’t reproduce the lowest fundamentals of a 4 string bass guitar. That is part of the situation here, perhaps most of it.

He is talking about recording the bass I believe.

 

[peterbolt]

Thanks for all the kind replies. I'take pictures/video as soon as possibile. String setup is listed in my first post. 45-100 nickel and 45-105 steel

 

[96tbird]

I find mush when the pickups are too close to the string. Jazz flat pups make it difficult to get balance if I chase string radius . I tend to raise my E action higher to get balance. The E is easy to fret so the added height doesn’t bother me.

 

[micguy]

He is talking about recording the bass I believe.

I don't know what he is listening to the bass through (headphones, speakers...), but in my headphones, the neck only recording has plenty of fundamental on the E string. The others have less (as they should); I don't hear that tone as "off" in any respect - it's pretty much "middle of the road" for a bass guitar.

If you want less mids and highs (which will let you hear more fundamental), I'd suggest flats. Problems are best solved at their source - in this case, the place where the tone is generated is your fingers and the strings. If you don't want to change your fingers, change your strings.

 

[brianrost]

Sounds pretty normal to me…I use my right hand to balance the tone from string to string. In a given position, I pluck closer to the neck when I go to higher strings and closer to the bridge when I go to lower strings.

I don’t hear the E as being more twangy than the higher strings. It’s darker, but it should be. Maybe I’m deaf?

 

[Nebadon2000]

If you want less mids and highs (which will let you hear more fundamental), I'd suggest flats. Problems are best solved at their source - in this case, the place where the tone is generated is your fingers and the strings.

He did change his fingers[pick] and the strings; reported same problem

 

[Nebadon2000]

If nut slot, string break angle, bridge saddles, pickup height are all fine could be a resonance; check tightness of all screws and truss rod

 

[peterbolt]

Thank you all for the advice. There are many interesting aspects to look into. For completeness, I’ll add that I’m listening through nearfield monitors in a control room with acoustic treatment, and also through professional planar headphones. So can you confirm that you’re hearing the issue as well? @brianrost you are not deaf, I’m probably exaggerating the problem, and some good signal processing could fix everything

 

[sawzalot]

Sounds like a fender Jazz to me, I think they all have this characteristic to some degree. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it though, it's just how they sound. Give it a little boost around 40 Hz, angle your bridge pickup so it slants a little closer to the E string, both of those may help. And then listen to it in a mix and you may find it fits in perfectly.

 

[Jogobass]

if you ever get a 5 string you will feel the same about the low B string. Strings do sound different because they have different mass. And especially when they age the low strings go first.

 

[pbassnut]

I don't know what he is listening to the bass through (headphones, speakers...), but in my headphones, the neck only recording has plenty of fundamental on the E string. The others have less (as they should); I don't hear that tone as "off" in any respect - it's pretty much "middle of the road" for a bass guitar.

If you want less mids and highs (which will let you hear more fundamental), I'd suggest flats. Problems are best solved at their source - in this case, the place where the tone is generated is your fingers and the strings. If you don't want to change your fingers, change your strings.

I have a decent Yamaha computer playback sound system with a subwoofer and a couple of satellite speakers and I'm not hearing the "hollowness" you're referring to. On average, most of your 105 - 45 roundwound string sets are going to have more E string fundamental than on your 100 - 45 set so that might be a direction to explore if you want more fundamental on your E string. The distance the strings are from the pickup pole pieces can have a bearing on the tone with pole pieces closer to the strings yielding more bottom. The DiMarzio Model Js have individually adjustable pole pieces so you have the ability to tweak them individually and very precisely. Lastly, I have a set of Model Js on one of my J-Basses and have found them to be generally deeper sounding than any of my Js with traditional Fender sounding pickups so what you're hearing is slightly baffling to me.

 

[micguy]

He did change his fingers[pick] and the strings; reported same problem

He changed from one set of (probably broken in) rounds to a new set of rounds, and it got "hollower". He doesn't like rounds (especially when new). I suggested flats, which will go the other way sonically - that should move him in the direction he wants to go.