Then I guess we both told each other something we already know.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Fender American Design Experience
- Thread starter ShoeManiac
- Start date
Then I guess we both told each other something we already know.
I am sitting at work today eagerly waiting for the text notification that my package has been delivered.
That's not correct. A standard passive tone control always drains some highs to ground. "Wide open" is through a 250K resistor in series with your cap - which acts as a high-pass filter. That means that changing caps never actually changes the bottom end (though changing the balance changes the perception of the bottom end.)
Yes, I know that a tone control is already a resistor and will always bleed a little to ground, but when your tone control is on "10" the amount of bleed that would actually affect the tone would be almost undetectable to most people, even if the bass was playing alone.
I'm certain differences would be noticeable on a spectrum analyzer... or maybe to Eric Johnson... but I've A/B'd different caps using decent digital recording equipment and differences between them was nominal, if not indistinguishable, when the tone was wide open. It certainly wouldn't make a bit of difference in a live band situation. Not to me, anyway.
My ears are fried, though... so maybe that's the problem.
I'm certain differences would be noticeable on a spectrum analyzer... or maybe to Eric Johnson... but I've A/B'd different caps using decent digital recording equipment and differences between them was nominal, if not indistinguishable, when the tone was wide open. It certainly wouldn't make a bit of difference in a live band situation. Not to me, anyway.
My ears are fried, though... so maybe that's the problem.
Naw, I wouldn't sweat it... I'm actually thinking there might be a problem with mine or something.Now you got me paranoid about the '58 pups that I got for mine!
And taste is taste... even if they do sound the way they're supposed to, it's not the P tone I'm looking for.
You might love it.
Maybe eliminating the cap altogether would be an option for you, since you like to dime the tone. Or maybe something like a .022 or .033 cap, so even when rolled off you still have some of the highs. A Fender "no load" pot is another option and would truly bypass anything the cap "might" be doing, though as you stated, the audible difference would be nominal at best.
As far as the pickup goes, now that I'm looking at it, perhaps your A poles are a bit too far out. You shouldn't be having to drop them that far and there definitely shouldn't be a discrepancy in volume in how they're set, though that side of the pickup was designed to be set slightly lower. My 58 didn't have the volume issue on the A at any setting, so maybe you actually wound up with an actual 58 pickup,
Right on... good advice.
It's not so much I like to dime the tone all the time or anything... that's just usually where I start when I 'm trying to find the tone in my head. As long as I like that tone, I know I can roll back some of the highs if I need to and be happy.
As far as the pickup goes, I showed the picture to a couple of friends who are way more knowledgeable than I am and one of them asked, "Is your fingerboard radius 4 inches? If it is, that pickup would be perfect."
Fender is willing to get me a new one, so I'll start there.
Thanks again guys.
It's not so much I like to dime the tone all the time or anything... that's just usually where I start when I 'm trying to find the tone in my head. As long as I like that tone, I know I can roll back some of the highs if I need to and be happy.
As far as the pickup goes, I showed the picture to a couple of friends who are way more knowledgeable than I am and one of them asked, "Is your fingerboard radius 4 inches? If it is, that pickup would be perfect."
Fender is willing to get me a new one, so I'll start there.
Thanks again guys.
My 57 reissue the pole pieces stick up to a similar level. Just by eye it doesn't seem any different. I've been able to set the pickups to what my ears say is an acceptable balance.
I have a 57p reissue and a 64J AV when I get the opportunity I will take a few good pics of them together and post it up.
I have a 57p reissue and a 64J AV when I get the opportunity I will take a few good pics of them together and post it up.
Back in the olde days, guys would remove that cap or bypass the tone pot altogether (provided they felt that they never had a need to roll off tone, like me). We all thought it brightened up the bass a bit. Maybe we were imagining things - we were all looking for the heaviest bass possible for "Sustain" too - so what did we know!
I got them on mine and I'm not impressed, unfortunately.
Like your '62, it is VERY high output. And it's a little thin in the bottom, but the midrange is nice. Maybe that's typical '58 tone... I dunno... but I want to put something else in it that has a thicker bottom and a sweeter high end.
The worst part about them is the staggered pole-pieces. The A-string pole pieces stick out of the pickup and I'm beginning to wonder if mine weren't done right because they come WAY out.
Here's a pic...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
You can even see in the pic that I have the A side of the pickup lower than the E side and the A string is still way too loud... in order to balance them even more, I'd have to drive the A side in even further and that would be just silly. So I'm going to get a new pickup from Fender and put it in myself.
I don't mean to freak anyone out... my pickup just seems like it's defective. I really hope they're not all like that.
April 17th... so exactly 2 months ago yesterday.
Seems like they're speeding up a little bit.
No way that's right. I don't think, anyway.
Right on... good advice.
It's not so much I like to dime the tone all the time or anything... that's just usually where I start when I 'm trying to find the tone in my head. As long as I like that tone, I know I can roll back some of the highs if I need to and be happy.
As far as the pickup goes, I showed the picture to a couple of friends who are way more knowledgeable than I am and one of them asked, "Is your fingerboard radius 4 inches? If it is, that pickup would be perfect."
Fender is willing to get me a new one, so I'll start there.
Thanks again guys.
Are you going to try the new '63 Pbass pickup that was offered as an option? I have a some "good vibes" about it (that sounds like a righteously scientific statement, doesn't it?)
I know it is taking you away from your original '57 PBass idea but at this point...
Gigged with the new bass tonight. Got a lot of compliments on the look and the tone. It definitely cuts through better than the old Fender Fankenbass. The old bass isn't going anywhere. It will be the better choice in a lot of recording situations.
Back on the cap discussion - it's easy to solder a couple of wires where either end of the cap should be and let them hang out of the bass (just don't screw the pickgaurd all the way down.) I did this when I got a big bag-o'-caps for a buck at a yard sale and wanted to try them out. if you do this, there are a couple of observations. (1) While the difference is not that big between a cap in and an open circuit, it's easy to tell the difference if you are there instantly clipping the cap in and out. Not sure it is much of a practical difference, but it is audible. (2) The difference between "identical" caps is audible - plus or minus 20% is an audible difference. (3) The value of the cap made a difference, but I wasn't sure the construction of the cap made any difference. I know people go on about the differences between brands of caps, but I wonder how much of that is simply the value of the capacitance rather than the quality of the component. (Of course, almost all caps are cheap. No real reason to save a couple of bucks if it MIGHT contribute to tone, but I couldn't hear it in that test.)
Back on the cap discussion - it's easy to solder a couple of wires where either end of the cap should be and let them hang out of the bass (just don't screw the pickgaurd all the way down.) I did this when I got a big bag-o'-caps for a buck at a yard sale and wanted to try them out. if you do this, there are a couple of observations. (1) While the difference is not that big between a cap in and an open circuit, it's easy to tell the difference if you are there instantly clipping the cap in and out. Not sure it is much of a practical difference, but it is audible. (2) The difference between "identical" caps is audible - plus or minus 20% is an audible difference. (3) The value of the cap made a difference, but I wasn't sure the construction of the cap made any difference. I know people go on about the differences between brands of caps, but I wonder how much of that is simply the value of the capacitance rather than the quality of the component. (Of course, almost all caps are cheap. No real reason to save a couple of bucks if it MIGHT contribute to tone, but I couldn't hear it in that test.)
She showed up today! It is a thing of beauty. I was so excited I created an "unboxing" video and posted it on YouTube. The sound quality when I play it is crummy (I promise to post something better this weekend) but the video shows all you get with it and the experience of opening it for the first time. Enjoy:
Of note: the neck I ordered is an American standard Jazz neck but it has the Precision bass decal. I quickly measured the nut and, sure enough, 1.5" Jazz width.
Fletz, that's a beautiful bass you've got. Great story about how it came to be, too. Fine job, little miss!
Great video man!!!
Super cool.
And I think I can see part of my problem with my pickup...
Since I'm a lefty, the pickup was installed without being switched, so the raised pole pieces are under my A string and they should be under the D.
Not sure if that would make a huge difference or not, since the pole pieces on my pickup are so high, but it's worth looking into.
Hmmmmm...
Super cool.
And I think I can see part of my problem with my pickup...
Since I'm a lefty, the pickup was installed without being switched, so the raised pole pieces are under my A string and they should be under the D.
Not sure if that would make a huge difference or not, since the pole pieces on my pickup are so high, but it's worth looking into.
Hmmmmm...
Great video man!!!
Super cool.
And I think I can see part of my problem with my pickup...
Since I'm a lefty, the pickup was installed without being switched, so the raised pole pieces are under my A string and they should be under the D.
Not sure if that would make a huge difference or not, since the pole pieces on my pickup are so high, but it's worth looking into.
Hmmmmm...
The raised poles are meant to be under the A. That's how it is on my 57 AVRI, and without measuring your poles appear to be a similar height to mine though the other poles are also partially extended rather than flush with the cover. In any case, if it's causing problems for you then that's all that matters.
Great video man!!!
Super cool.
And I think I can see part of my problem with my pickup...
Since I'm a lefty, the pickup was installed without being switched, so the raised pole pieces are under my A string and they should be under the D.
Not sure if that would make a huge difference or not, since the pole pieces on my pickup are so high, but it's worth looking into.
Hmmmmm...
Now I'm confused, lol. You're poles are raised under the A, correct? That's where they should be, lefty or righty. What do mean they weren't switched? Could you post a frontal pic maybe?
That's truly a thing of beauty, Fetz. There are some who would kill to stumble on one of these in the wild (Jazz necked P with a P logo). It came out great and the plate adds some heartwarming character to it all.
