• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

DJ4 with pick... terrible?

cheshirepig

cheshirepig

May 14, 2008
189
1
Portland, OR
#1
Howdy,
I recently got a new Lakland Darryl Jones 4 stringer, and it sounds awful with a pick! I changed from stock strings to DR lo-riders (nickel) and they sound a little better, and also I have put in an Audere pre, but I still get a real rubber-bandy kind of sound. (I have a Highway 1 Jazz that has a real meaty picked sound, on the other hand)
What's the deal? Has anyone had a similar experience? I don't use a pick often, but when i need to, its kind of painful with this bass.
(it sounds great otherwise though... I'm not just trying to start a to Lakland or not to Lakland argument)
 
#2
This may be a stupid question, but have you tried playing with the EQ? It could be that the DJ emphasizes the mids more than your other bass.

Also, how heavy are the strings? I find that light gauge strings don't sound as good with a pick. Are they the same kind that you use in your Highway 1?
 
#3
I have a DJ4 (w/ Lakland pickups), but without the Audere, and it sounds "good" in the traditional passive-Fender-with-a-pick way (which, to me, is going to be mostly in the 200-500 Hz plus sizzle kind of ballpark), so it's doing the thing that I expect it to be doing. I'm currently using Hi Beams 105-45 (but have used Lo-Riders), and typically go full neck/tone full or both pickups full/tone full.

I'm guessing it could be the bass preamp that might be giving you a fit (but this is without EVER having used an Audere personally)-- because you're comparing a Jazz with a preamp to a passive Jazz, i.e. Highway 1, which isn't exactly apples to apples. I'd try bypassing the preamp, if you can.

Aside from the strings, which Potsdam already brought up, another thing to consider is pick gauge. If it's too thuddy, and you want more high end, try using a pick in a lighter gauge-- I go between green and yellow tortex depending on the bass.
 
#4
I rarely use a pick. Usually just to practice with in case I ever HAVE to use a pick (hand injury; wanting to get a certain sound; etc.)

But when I do, after experimenting with my tone knob, I generally roll it back MUCH farther than when I play finger-style. Finger-style, I usually have the tone knob dimed, or backed off just slightly. With a pick, I drop it back dramatically.
 
#6
Oh god, this is not good news.
I stopped playing my HW1 Jazz a few years ago because i didn't like the sound i got as i play with a pick 99%. Nothing wrong with the HW1 but i tend to rest my hand on the bridge and so pick closer to the bridge where it can sound a bit thin. I just got fed up with it.
Now im just about to pick up my new DJ5 and i see this thread :-(.
 
#8
dave_bass5 said:
Oh god, this is not good news.
I stopped playing my HW1 Jazz a few years ago because i didn't like the sound i got as i play with a pick 99%. Nothing wrong with the HW1 but i tend to rest my hand on the bridge and so pick closer to the bridge where it can sound a bit thin. I just got fed up with it.
Now im just about to pick up my new DJ5 and i see this thread :-(.
Click to expand...

Don't panic. I like the pick sound on my DJ5 just fine.

I think it's just a matter of finding the right strings for it. I'm generally a fan of nickel Lo Riders, but I just didn't care much for them on the DJ5. It's wearing Fat Beams right now which I kinda dig and I don't usually go for SS strings.

TI flats sounded good and I may check out some Sunbeams or Black Beauties in the near future. If you haven't figured it out yet, I tend to favor DR strings.
 
#9
Yeah, i sort of panicked when i read this. Just having a bad morning.
Of course we all like different tones. For me the Jazz tone isnt one im completely fond of as im more a P guy but im hoping ill get on with the DJ5. And im sure i will.
Just nervious that's all.
I really like the Lakland nicks (used them for over a year on my 55-01) and have used Chromes for the past year or so on my P's but recently gone back to Elixirs.
These are my favourite string and i have a set waiting to go on the DJ5 when i get it tomorrow. I dont go for SS either, way too bright for me.

Im thinking of putting a Audere in it at some point anyway, and trying hard to get to grips with playing finger style.
 
#11
PSPookie said:
Don't panic. I like the pick sound on my DJ5 just fine.

I think it's just a matter of finding the right strings for it. I'm generally a fan of nickel Lo Riders, but I just didn't care much for them on the DJ5. It's wearing Fat Beams right now which I kinda dig and I don't usually go for SS strings.

TI flats sounded good and I may check out some Sunbeams or Black Beauties in the near future. If you haven't figured it out yet, I tend to favor DR strings.
Click to expand...

I love DR's too and had both and Hi-Beams and Lo-Riders on mine. As well as D'Addario ProSteels, Nickels, GHS Boomers and Rotosound 66's. Didn't try flats though. The bass just sounded dull. Of course it didn't have a preamp or anything and it was one of the newer DJ's.
 
#12
I have an older DJ4 with the Aeros and strung with DR Fatbeams.

I rarely use a pick, but when I do, the picking position seems to make a huge difference on tone. This bass seems pretty sensitive to where you position your fingers or pick, which works well in that you can get a lot of different tones by altering position.

Also, dropping back the bridge pickup just a little bit can help too.
 
#13
cheshirepig said:
Howdy,
I recently got a new Lakland Darryl Jones 4 stringer, and it sounds awful with a pick! I changed from stock strings to DR lo-riders (nickel) and they sound a little better, and also I have put in an Audere pre, but I still get a real rubber-bandy kind of sound. (I have a Highway 1 Jazz that has a real meaty picked sound, on the other hand)
What's the deal? Has anyone had a similar experience? I don't use a pick often, but when i need to, its kind of painful with this bass.
(it sounds great otherwise though... I'm not just trying to start a to Lakland or not to Lakland argument)
Click to expand...

When you stuck in the Audere, did you perhaps stick the wires out of phase. If they are Lakland Pickups, they have an opposite orientation (than most pickups) in terms of wiring to put them in phase. So if it sounds sort of nasaly in general, then it could be because you wired your pickups out of phase.

Just offering food for thought.
 
#14
Thanks for all the responses. I'll just answer all the questions in the order given.
I'm using Fat Beams in the HW1, and they are actually a bit lighter than the Lo-Riders in the DJ4 (med. vs med-light).
Potsdam: I haven't EQ'd for picking, and that is actually something I was hoping to get input on: if/how people EQ for picking (especially if that can be done on the onboard pre).
cicatrice: I don't think its the pre, because I had the same problems before installing it. I'll try experimenting with pick sizes. I want a thumpy/crunchy (I don't know if crunchy is actually a word that bass people use) sound instead of the boingy kind of sound that I've got.
Jeff: I can't imagine that I didn't mess with the tone knob, but I'll remember to try really pulling it back when I get home today.
Eagle: Don't say that! The bass is soooo pretty.
PS: I could try Hi-Beams (I also love DR). I went for the nickel lo-riders because I wanted it to sound pretty different than my other bass, and I figured the nickel and the hex core would help do that, but maybe its just hurting me.
cicatrice (again): the first half sounded great to me, so I'll mess with pickup selection some more. Where are you picking?
NWB: So you think the DJ is more sensitive than other basses about where its being picked? That's cool, and I'll keep that in mind. So like 75%-25% to the bridge pickup?
Poon: I definitely learned the hard way about their wire colors. Struggling to get the battery to fit the second time, after correctly wiring it, i broke a wire off the board and had to send it back to Beaverton. Pretty frustrating..
 
#15
It seems to me to be a bit more sensitive to picking/plucking position than a lot of other basses. I'd try picking in different places to find the tonal differences. It's actually pretty cool that you can get so many tones just by altering position.

I'd suggest turning down the bridge PU volume about 10% or so and give that a listen. Mine has the Aero PU's so that may be a bit different than yours.
 
#17
After two gigs with my new DJ5 im really not impressed with the tone im getting.
Im picking 99% of the time and there is something not right about it.
It could be im really into my P5 with Elixirs and these strings will be going on the DJ5 as well this week.
Ive compared the DJ5 with my HW1 and although both sound fine the HW1 has a bit more punch to it. But then its got nicks on rather than the stock Lakalnd SS.
I really dont want to add a preamp as im trying to stay passive. If anything ill change the neck pup to a split coil.
Its a shame as i really love the bass in every other way and while i dont think ill be getting rid of it anytime soon i can see its going to cost me a bit more money before im happy.
 
#18
Lakland pups sound like ass--no balls. If you want pick snarl, then use Rotosound roundwounds and put a set of Aeros or Antiquity IIs on there, and get rid of that tone sucking active eq. Get an SVT or SVT clone, and you'll rip people's heads off with that bass.

If you want to hear an example of very nasty and rude old-school jazz bass with rounds and a pick through and SVT, check out Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1st album. Bass courtesy of Ed King.
 
#19
silky smoove said:
The clips of the DJ5 on the Lakland audio page (Invalid Link Removed) specifically the "pick punk" clips sound quite good to my ears... I know this doesn't help you directly, but I'd imagine based on these that its definitely possible to get good pick tone from a DJ.
Click to expand...
Good answer, and keep in mind that those clips were not EQ'ed, and only had some light compression used to help them track better. Most any jazz bass is going to need a good amount of EQ to get a perfect pick sound, especially if you're wanting it to sound deep and full. The pick adds a lot of grinding attack and a cutting upper-mid character. IMO, it also sounds best through a good tube amp with a more traditional boomy cabinet.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back