Fender J Bass sounds like saucepan

[bucephylus]

Hi guys!
Can you check is everything ok with my new Fender American J Bass?
It;s sounds like saucepan.

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Jazz Basses can sound clanky.

A) Believe it or not, that quality causes the bass to cut through guitar wash really well. I know it sounds ugly; but in the mix, it will sound great.

B) Unlike the P Bass, the Jazz Bass is well served by additional signal chain modification, which allows you to both dial out a lot of the clank and get a whole range of additional and useful tones. Preamps, both onboard and outboard, as well as pickup replacements are all fair game, and can be used to make the instrument extremely useful. Your adventure, should you choose to accept it is just beginning.

Or, you could decide to just be plug and play and swap for a P Bass.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

It’s probably due to that one missing screw.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

In all seriousness, I’d say you have a string issue. I hear what you’re talking about, and usually the problem lies within the strings, or, at least, that’s where you should begin seeing as how it’s the simplest solution.

First, de-tune then tune back up. Problem fixed? Yes, stop. No, move on to the next step.

(Aim for three wraps around the tuning post). De-tune the string, let the ball end relax to get rid of any twist, re-tune. Then stretch the string up and down the length of it. Then, set them by pressing down just before the nut on the fretboard. Then, press down just after the saddle on the bridge. Do all this with some force but not excessive. If this doesn’t work......

De-tune, twist the string at the ball end to tighten the windings (1/2 rotation....Do not sit there and twist forever. Slight movements can fix issues. A 180 degree turn is all you’d want to do). It’s worked on my basses before when I had a similar issue. Sometimes that twangy sound can be from a loose wrap vibrating.

Take pics of your setup action and headstock.....helps people address your issue.

 

[fjbass78]

What’s your recommendation? Change strings?

I would make sure the strings are wrapped nicely (3x) around the string post, and lower the pickups a little and see if that helps

 

[swafran]

Are you selling your sauce pans by any chance

 

[vindibona1]

English is not my native language.
I live in Dubai, but I’m Ukrainian

What's the connection between my gear and my skill? I don’t understand[/QUOTE]

The connection? Typically "beginners' don't start off with $1500 basses. But everything I know about Dubai is that everything pretty much is "high end".

I rly like the sound of the bass but that’s overtones sounds weird for me

Yes, you were creating some harmonics that aren't usually heard like that. But it is very likely that fretting the C while plucking at the position of your fingers were just right to create the harmonics. You will note that every other note was lightly stopped by your finger when the harmonics were present. Try the same exercise with one finger and/or change the fret position that you're fingering and see if the harmonics still come through.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

you're lucky, the last fender I had sounded like a wet fart........

You normally have to shell out for a Gibson for that

 

[ahc]

With that bass you'd be a shoe-in for a session gig here:

 

[Kro]

De-tune, twist the string at the ball end to tighten the windings.

I'm with you on wanting to see some pics of the setup, but I'm not sure I can endorse the recommendation above to twist strings.

It isn't just about the windings, it's about the core, and twisted strings can lead to similar issues - and could even be what is causing the weird tones in question.

 

[TakeABreak]

Inharmonicity - Wikipedia

From what I can tell, I'm having the same problem as you on my 5 string jazz - it actually seems like a pretty common issue, though everyone describes it differently!

I've come across the whole gamut of suggested causes and solutions, but I've narrowed it down to inharmonicity - which can occur in larger diameter strings. The corresponding string stiffness affects the intonation, causing the harmonics to be out of tune with the fundamental frequency, creating that weird sound. I haven't solved the problem on my bass yet, but my next step is to try smaller diameter strings, with a more flexible design to minimize this effect.

 

[dkelley]

Example of twisted string issue:

I changed bridge on one of my basses from fender vintage style to steinberger style (but no bridge tuners).

Used same strings to get it setup initially.

Break position at bridge and nut were about the same, but due to design differences, ball end was on different angle after bridge change.

I rotated ball end to fit (on the new bridge) over saddles using the existing bend in the strings from the old bridge, rather than unbending and rebending strings over new saddles (so as not to break strings).

Tuner side was same as before... resulting in roughly 45 degrees turn on string along the vibrating area.

If you love a chorus pedal, i highly recommend this technique lol.

Otherwise, no.

 

[Ric5]

Bass in a saucepan

 

[nilorius]

So your bass sounds like a saucepan. I wouldn't stand for that. Return immediately.

Mine sounds like a wok, just like Fender promised in the brochure. I guess I got lucky.

Oh, and welcome to TB, you're gonna fit right in with all us other nutjobs.

What would be said that it sounds like saucepan. Regulate your eq at first, then consider.

 

[Stumbo]

What? You wok me up just to read this thread? I'm going to put some sauce in my pan and go back to bed....

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Your bass sounds like a Jazz bass does... But if you still have some doubts, just make sure it is not the Guy Fieri signature model, it might be greasy also...

 

[AboutSweetSue]

I'm with you on wanting to see some pics of the setup, but I'm not sure I can endorse the recommendation above to twist strings.

It isn't just about the windings, it's about the core, and twisted strings can lead to similar issues - and could even be what is causing the weird tones in question.

It’s an unorthodox method no doubt, but I wouldn’t say it had it not worked for me in the past.

A 180 degree rotation at the ball won’t hurt (edited), and, if it doesn’t work, twist it back.

 

[TakeABreak]

Hi guys!
Can you check is everything ok with my new Fender American J Bass?
It;s sounds like saucepan.

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Cast iron should sit in the mix better than aluminum - too bright. Cast bronze would be harder to find, but would give you that nice “bell tone”.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Don’t get me wrong...

 

[Stumbo]

What would be said that it sounds like saucepan. Regulate your eq at first, then consider.

Yeah, you gotta high pass the saucepan; better dispersion stage/FOH, improves string to string balance, protects your speakers from over-excursion and helps deal with poor stage/venue acoustics...ahhh...where am I?

 

[Kro]

A 180 degree rotation at the ball won’t hurt (edited), and, if it doesn’t work, twist it back.

Hard to argue with success.

And I guess it isn't a bad trouble shooting procedure, as if the string was twisted to begin with, a 180 degree turn in either direction could potentially lead to it being untwisted...