I didn't bring the Tele to my last band practice. I usually bring my P-Bass and something else. For the first time ever, my bandmates asked where my new Telecaster bass was? They never really care what bass I am playing. That was followed by comments about how they loved the sound of it. I have played with the same guys for many years and they have never commented on any of my basses. I think they like it.
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Fender Modern Player Telecaster Bass
- Thread starter Timpala
- Start date
Ok, so I am having some issues with this bass. The pickups are so HOT that it is still causing my Ampeg SVT 300 watt tube head to go into emergency standby mode. I keep turning the bass and the gain down on the amp, but it isn't enough. I am to the point where I have the bass and gain pretty much all the way off. I've tried lowering the pole pieces as much as I can, but it isn't enough. I haven't done it yet, but I am going to take off the pickup covers to see if there is any way to lower the whole pickup. If I can't, I will have to put in different pickups. I can't have this happen anymore. Yes, I play in a loud rock band. But this doesn't happen with any of my other basses. Any suggestions?
Wow - zombie thread.
I must not have received any alerts on this thread or I would have jumped in. Hope the OP solved the issue long ago but if not, the first thing I'd try is to switch to the other input jack on the SVT. I think that amp has a padded input, if so that might help.
Here's the set up routine I use on mine...
Turn amp volume off and gain all the way up.
Set each pickup volume on the bass at 100% on.
Set tone on bass at about midway.
Strum, pluck or play each string loudly and with force (much harder than you would normally during a gig) noting the clip indicator on the amp.
Turn gain down to the point where clip indicator no longer lights up when playing each string loudly.
That should solve the clipping problem but to be sure (and to give yourself a bit of headroom) drop each volume knob on the bass down to about the 50% to 75% on level.
Then without touching the gain on the amp or the tone and volume knobs on the bass have the drummer wail away at typical stage volume while you turn the volume of your amp up to match his sound level.
You're now set in parity with the drums, during the show if you need to increase volume you can safely crank each pickup volume knob up all the way with out fear of clipping.
Note:
Be sure to use the instrument input jack on you're amp that allows you to turn up the gain the highest without clipping.
I must not have received any alerts on this thread or I would have jumped in. Hope the OP solved the issue long ago but if not, the first thing I'd try is to switch to the other input jack on the SVT. I think that amp has a padded input, if so that might help.
Here's the set up routine I use on mine...
Turn amp volume off and gain all the way up.
Set each pickup volume on the bass at 100% on.
Set tone on bass at about midway.
Strum, pluck or play each string loudly and with force (much harder than you would normally during a gig) noting the clip indicator on the amp.
Turn gain down to the point where clip indicator no longer lights up when playing each string loudly.
That should solve the clipping problem but to be sure (and to give yourself a bit of headroom) drop each volume knob on the bass down to about the 50% to 75% on level.
Then without touching the gain on the amp or the tone and volume knobs on the bass have the drummer wail away at typical stage volume while you turn the volume of your amp up to match his sound level.
You're now set in parity with the drums, during the show if you need to increase volume you can safely crank each pickup volume knob up all the way with out fear of clipping.
Note:
Be sure to use the instrument input jack on you're amp that allows you to turn up the gain the highest without clipping.
Good to read that people are pleased with their Telecaster bass, I grabbed one today for the low low of $150. Can't want to clean it up and put it in the rotation!
I bought one of these recently and ended up selling it pretty quickly. It was strange. They added the bridge pickup, but I didn't at all like what it did to the tone. I get why they added the second pickup to blend into the muddy neck one, but this seemed like it didn't do much to solve the issue. I think what it needed was a different type of pickup instead of having two of the same.
The one thing Fender got absolutely correct about this was adding the forearm contour and belly cut to the body shape. I don't know why they refuse to do this to any other tele bass because it was a fantastic upgrade.
The one thing Fender got absolutely correct about this was adding the forearm contour and belly cut to the body shape. I don't know why they refuse to do this to any other tele bass because it was a fantastic upgrade.
