Fender Jazz - not happy with sound of D and G strings

[tothemax]

I have a 2004 MIA Jazz bass I bought used a bit over a year ago, love the guitar. It still has the strings that came on it, not sure what they are, most likely a light set 45 - 100. Recently I've noticed a "plinky" weak tone coming from the G string, and less noticeable also from the D string. I'm pretty sure that the bass is stock and I rarely change my bass stings unless they are really dead. Just wondering if I should try a heavier set, or maybe go hybrid for the G and D strings. The E and A sound good, actually a little boomy if I turn up to get more out of the D and G. Pickup adjustment maybe? Guitar plays great, fairly low action.

Any help out there? Cheers

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Always do pickup height adjustment first, since it's 100% free

Don't be afraid to try closer or farther, sometimes the issue is more complex than just move it closer. If nothing seems to do the trick, might want to try a new pair of strings. If you have a compressor around, might want to try experimenting with that too, as it can alleviate this issue if configured properly.

 

[michael_t]

I'm pretty sure that the bass is stock and I rarely change my bass stings unless they are really dead. Just wondering if I should try a heavier set...

Instead of a heavier set, how about a newer set first?

 

[AK Bass Guy]

My go to string choices.
Both medium gauge range.
Rounds: EB Cobalts
Flats: LaBella Deep Talking Flats

I found the overall sound of both the above listed strings to be well balanced.

If you haven’t changed your strings in a long while it’s probably worth changing them.

 

[Lo_Basserson]

I just got a new Jazz and heard this when it doesn’t come across acoustically. I checked my older Jazz and found that I had the pickups slightly lower in the high (G) side, which is kinda counter intuitive. Believe it or not, thinner strings seemed to help as well. I think it was the lower tension.

Could just be me, though. Or maybe I’m not fully getting your issue.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Get some new strings man!
45-100 or 105 or whatever you want.

 

[Mike Marshall]

I have a 2004 MIA Jazz bass I bought used a bit over a year ago, love the guitar. It still has the strings that came on it, not sure what they are, most likely a light set 45 - 100. Recently I've noticed a "plinky" weak tone coming from the G string, and less noticeable also from the D string. I'm pretty sure that the bass is stock and I rarely change my bass stings unless they are really dead. Just wondering if I should try a heavier set, or maybe go hybrid for the G and D strings. The E and A sound good, actually a little boomy if I turn up to get more out of the D and G. Pickup adjustment maybe? Guitar plays great, fairly low action.

Any help out there? Cheers

try using Brite Flats/Halfrounds on the G and D. I have done this for years I use Boomers on the E and A and Brite flats on the D and G they dont get lost in a guitar heavy band

 

[Chris Chong]

Medium gauge fr 45, and raise the pickup height on the G string side.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I have a 2004 MIA Jazz bass I bought used a bit over a year ago, love the BASS. It still has the strings that came on it, not sure what they are, most likely a light set 45 - 100. Recently I've noticed a "plinky" weak tone coming from the G string, and less noticeable also from the D string. I'm pretty sure that the bass is stock and I rarely change my bass stings unless they are really dead. Just wondering if I should try a heavier set, or maybe go hybrid for the G and D strings. The E and A sound good, actually a little boomy if I turn up to get more out of the D and G. Pickup adjustment maybe? Guitar plays great, fairly low action.

Any help out there? Cheers

Get new strings and a setup. Problem solved

 

[roccobass]

I have a 2004 MIA Jazz bass I bought used a bit over a year ago, love the guitar. It still has the strings that came on it, not sure what they are, most likely a light set 45 - 100. Recently I've noticed a "plinky" weak tone coming from the G string, and less noticeable also from the D string. I'm pretty sure that the bass is stock and I rarely change my bass stings unless they are really dead. Just wondering if I should try a heavier set, or maybe go hybrid for the G and D strings. The E and A sound good, actually a little boomy if I turn up to get more out of the D and G. Pickup adjustment maybe? Guitar plays great, fairly low action.

Any help out there? Cheers

Get new strings and a setup. Problem solved

Definitely discuss this with your tech too, if still puzzled. There’s a fix for sure.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

2 thoughts: If the sound has deteriorated, the most likely suspect is the strings, being now a year older and having been played for that year as well. If you liked the way they sounded when you got the bass, post pics of both ends of the strings and a bunch of TB sleuths will be right on the case to help you determine what they are! Seriously, these guys are GOOD!

BBB

 

[Deleted member 271037]

"Plinky" isn't enough information to know what we're dealing with here. An audio clip would help if you want any kind of meaningful advice on how to proceed. It might be the strings, it might be a setup issue, or it might be a more serious issue with the bass.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I just got a new Jazz and heard this when it doesn’t come across acoustically. I checked my older Jazz and found that I had the pickups slightly lower in the high (G) side, which is kinda counter intuitive. Believe it or not, thinner strings seemed to help as well. I think it was the lower tension.

Could just be me, though. Or maybe I’m not fully getting your issue.

It's definitely not just you.

With a standard setup you will typically have the strings (action) lower on the treble (G) side, so it's not necessarily counter intuitive that the pickups may sound better, and better balanced, when they're slightly lower on the treble side too. If the pickup get too close to the strings, all kinds of nasty things can happen, like weird chorus-like "out of tune" overtones (especially in higher frets) that messes with your intonation, causes loss of sustain and even fret buzz caused by the increased magnetic drag from the pickups. The ideal pickup height will always depend on a number of things: Your choice of strings, your playing style, your preferred setup and last, but certainly not least, the pickup itself. Some pickups need to be higher, some pickups need to be lower and some pickups are far more forgiving about the pickup height than others.

I also agree that thinner strings can sometimes sound "fatter" than heavier gauge strings. Especially if you're playing fingerstyle close to the neck. Thinner strings generally vibrate with a bigger amplitude, which generally means a fatter tone. But thinner strings may also have slightly lower output and slightly less sustain. But there is no correct "one size fits all" answer to this. The "best" strings/gauges for any bass player will depend on you playing style, and on what kind of tone you're looking for. For example, when playing aggressively with a pick close to the bridge it can often be the opposite, with heavier gauge G-strings sounding more robust and better balanced.

 

[roccobass]

It's definitely not just you.

With a standard setup you will typically have the strings (action) lower on the treble (G) side, so it's not necessarily counter intuitive that the pickups may sound better, and better balanced, when they're slightly lower on the treble side too. If the pickup get too close to the strings, all kinds of nasty things can happen, like weird chorus-like "out of tune" overtones (especially in higher frets) that messes with your intonation, causes loss of sustain and even fret buzz caused by the increased magnetic drag from the pickups. The ideal pickup height will always depend on a number of things: Your choice of strings, your playing style, your preferred setup and last, but certainly not least, the pickup itself. Some pickups need to be higher, some pickups need to be lower and some pickups are far more forgiving about the pickup height than others.

I also agree that thinner strings can sometimes sound "fatter" than heavier gauge strings. Especially if you're playing fingerstyle close to the neck. Thinner strings generally vibrate with a bigger amplitude, which generally means a fatter tone. But thinner strings may also have slightly lower output and slightly less sustain. But there is no correct "one size fits all" answer to this. The "best" strings/gauges for any bass player will depend on you playing style, and on what kind of tone you're looking for. For example, when playing aggressively with a pick close to the bridge it can often be the opposite, with heavier gauge G-strings sounding more robust and better balanced.

Exactly! You hit the nail on the head on a lot of the points I was gonna make. I just bought a ‘93 MIJ Fender Jazz fretless suffered from “plinkiness” and “out of phase-itus” on the G string. Lowering my pickups on that side didn’t clear it up and I lost gain on both G and D strings.

I ended up changing out the G string from its original GHS Precision Flats to a Diadarrio Chrome of the same .45 gauge. It cleared about 90% of the issue. Relegating what was left upwards from the 12 th position.

It’s funny. I’m ok with this arrangement. I usually don’t hang around in that area unless I’m soloing. I find this kind of out of phase effect kind of cool when I am.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Try a new set of strings first. This is a good choice.

 

[Gervais Cote]

All I can say is this : my jazz bass sounded barely okay until I put a brand new set of Dunlop Marcus Miller stainless steel super bright rounds on it.

This literally woke up my bass. Can’t recommend this enough.

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

Always do pickup height adjustment first, since it's 100% free

Don't be afraid to try closer or farther, sometimes the issue is more complex than just move it closer. If nothing seems to do the trick, might want to try a new pair of strings. If you have a compressor around, might want to try experimenting with that too, as it can alleviate this issue if configured properly.

I came here to say exactly this. Usually this is the answer. Strings with life in them help also.

 

[tothemax]

All good stuff. I'll start out playing around with PU adjustment. I think I was so impressed with how much better this bass played compared to my heavy slab body 50's reissue P, that I wasn't really focused on the tonal details. We recently added ELPs From the beginning to our set, and tend to vamp in the higher register. That has made it more noticeable. I like the softer tone older strings provide, and predominantly play finger style. I'll check the string size with a micrometer, to verify what's on there now.

Thanks... cheers

 

[invalidprotocol]

Some strings sound thin on the D and G string which annoys me as well. If adjustment of the pickup height doesn’t result in the sound you’re after, consider changing strings. My favorite is DR Pure Blues, but some alternatives would be Fodera (made by DR) or GHS Roundcore Boomers. I also liked Dunlop Marcus Miller but they would be last on my list here to address your concern.