Dingwall ABZ w weak g string

[gSpidey]

Folks, I'm the proud owner of a new Dingwall ABZ 5. It looks and plays beautifully, but I'm having a problem that I have yet to figure out. I'm hoping perhaps one of you has some advice.

Problem is that the g string on the bass has no oomph. To be heard at all in a small-spaced rehearsal setting (bass, two guitars, drums, vocal) I must strike the string hard. I've tried a number of EQ settings, primarily cranking up the treble and high mids on my GK Fusion 550. My adjustments have not made much of a difference so far. The other four strings sound great, cut through perfectly. Any ideas? I must be missing something here...

Thanks.

G.

 

[12bass]

Sheldon is probably your best bet. Have to tried adjusting the height of the pickups to slightly favor the G?

 

[gSpidey]

No, I haven't tried that, 12bass, but will consider doing so. Thanks.

 

[Sheldon D.]

Try a half-turn up on the G-string end of the pickups and a full-turn down on the B-string end.

Watch that you're not boosting too much lowend. A 40 Hz knee frequency will likely miss the G-string.

 

[bass4worship]

Tuning is done by using a UV meter, I used my Tape recorder input to set the level on my Combustion. This is how they do it at dingwall. Turn pickup screws up/down on both side until they even on UV.

 

[Skunk11]

I'm having a similar problem on my brand new Combustion. The problem is that the G and the B strings are both considerably quieter than the other 3.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

 

[Jeff Roller]

Tuning is done by using a UV meter, I used my Tape recorder input to set the level on my Combustion. This is how they do it at dingwall. Turn pickup screws up/down on both side until they even on UV.

Where would I find a UV meter? What unit do you use or recommend?

 

[bass4worship]

Do you have a stereo system with UV meters on them. Just plug in one side of the AUX OR you can use a mic mixer.

 

[Paul M]

I think you mean VU meter – unless Dingwalls emit ultraviolet radiation

 

[rpsands]

Odd, I wonder if there's a little QC on the final setup. The Dingwall combustion I played the other day at the Bass Place was quite a bit loud on the treble strings and quiet on the bass strings (unusual I know).

 

[joeyl]

Odd, I wonder if there's a little QC on the final setup. The Dingwall combustion I played the other day at the Bass Place was quite a bit loud on the treble strings and quiet on the bass strings (unusual I know).

that is also affected by amp settings and cab choices of the store, and even the acoustic nature of the room of the store

 

[Sheldon D.]

I'm having a similar problem on my brand new Combustion. The problem is that the G and the B strings are both considerably quieter than the other 3.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

Solo both pickups. Is it more noticable on one pickup or the other or consistent on both? Feel free to email me directly.

Sheldon

 

[Sheldon D.]

Odd, I wonder if there's a little QC on the final setup. The Dingwall combustion I played the other day at the Bass Place was quite a bit loud on the treble strings and quiet on the bass strings (unusual I know).

We used to set the output of the B the same as the G. This has worked for neodymium pickups forever. With the alnico pickups this works in our shop, but we got a few complaints out in the field that the B was quiet so as of this spring we started adjusting the bass end of the pickups to make the B about 3 dB hotter.

 

[Skunk11]

Sheldon, email sent. Thanks!

 

[bass4worship]

Thanks for the correction, it's a VU not a UV meter.

 

[12bass]

This Dingwall reads high on the UV meter:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Jeff Roller]

Do you have a stereo system with UV meters on them. Just plug in one side of the AUX OR you can use a mic mixer.

Okay, I'm looking for a VU meter, which makes sense I was pulling up things on google to check for Ultra violet a little while earlier!

I don't have recording equipment, and have no intention on buying this baby for 425.00 Invalid Link Removed

Does anyone make a cheaper alternative? I would like to check the output levels on my basses and adjust accordingly.

 

[12bass]

Even using a set level LED on an amp could serve a similar function. What I try to do is set the pickup height so that the LED lights up close to equally across the strings. Actually, given that the lower strings are deeper, they get just a little bit more level. Basically, the idea is to use a meter or level indicator of some kind to get the output balanced from string to string. Even patching into a sound card and monitoring on the mixer window could do in a pinch. Height-wise, I usually find that the pickups end up just slightly closer to the G-side (when measured between bottom of string to top of pickup).

 

[gSpidey]

Try a half-turn up on the G-string end of the pickups and a full-turn down on the B-string end.

Watch that you're not boosting too much lowend. A 40 Hz knee frequency will likely miss the G-string.

I will try this pickup adjustment. The lowend is boosted a bit so I'll play with the EQ more, too. Next rehearsal is Sept.10.

Thanks for your help and thanks to everyone else who has replied, too.

G.

 

[gSpidey]

Man, that bass is beautiful!