• 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.

From P-bass to Spector

ajunea3

ajunea3

Feb 14, 2008
298
8
Baton Rouge
www.blackmagnolia.net
#1
For the past year or so I've been gigging in my alternative rock band with my trusty P-bass with flats. I have two guitarists to compete with, one of whom uses a Mesa Dual Rectifier stack and always sits it right next to my SVT rig. With the P bass, I never have any problems hearing (or feeling) myself since that tremendous low mid thump always shines through. Occasionally I'd pull out my MM Stingray and while it doesn't sit quite as nicely in the mix as my P-bass, it does a decent job and gives me the edgy modern tone I need in some songs.

I recently bought a used Spector NS-4CR. It's neck-thru with the P/J configuration. I thought the answers to all my problems would be solved... a very playable bass with great modern-ish tone that would really fill out the bottom end.

I gigged it for the first time last night, and got lots of great complements on my tone. Everyone raved about how growly the tone was and how it filled out the sound nicely. Only problem was, when my rhythm guitarist would play, I couldn't hear myself. The bass was alost overpowering when only my lead guitarist was playing, and virtually non-existant when both we're playing. We were fighting for space in the same frequency range.

I want to love everything about the spector, I really do, but I love the comfort of never getting lost in the mix with my P-bass. I'll never get any complements on the tone with the P-bass, but it just fits so well in the mix. So what do you guys think... stick with the P live, put some flats on the Spector, or just suck it up and keep playing the Spector with rounds. I'm afraid if I put flats on the Spector I'll lose that aggressive growly tone.
 
#4
Those CZ Spectors are great basses. I personally own only US versions, but I'd freely admit to never passing a blindfold A/B test between a NS-4CR and its US counterpart of similar specs.

The Spector is a different animal than a P, and its classic growly sound depends on rounds. I've always had great results with both pickups mixed evenly on the blend, and only a touch of treble boost and leaving the bass boost alone. I did boost some more treble and bass in a two-guitar situation. I'd also experiment with favoring the bridge or neck pickup a tad to see if it cuts through a little more. There's all sorts of Spector preamps out on their basses now, but a moderate approach seems to work best for all of them.

A Spector lives in a different sonic "place" than a P, so it will seem out of whack to a player who is new to it. The NS models can be a little mid-shy, so a little mid boost on the amp can help as well.
 
#5
You could try boosting the mids a bit.

But if the crowd likes it more and you get all those complements you say, isn't it a bit unimportant what do YOU hear on stage?
I mean, if the crowd can distinguish your sounds and complement it as growly etc, what's the problem? Could it be the place's fault that you couldn't hear yourself, or the way the stage was set with the amps perhaps?
 
#7
I had flats on my NS for quite a while and loved the sound. Might as well give it a try. Also, like the others have said, the Spector, like you know, is quite different from a P and therefore will need the amp EQ'd accordingly. Boost some mids and play around with pickup blend. You should be able to locate where she cuts through.
 
#9
I had this issue on all of my basses when I first started playing with my current band. I play with a crunchy guitarist and active synth player. It was the synth that was drowning me out. On my bass I just rolled the mids up all the way and boosted the bass a touch and viola! There I was. I get compliments on tone a lot since then.
 
#10
Very easy fix, which has been stated by some posters before me.

Tweak the mids on your amp. Somewhere around the 800k range to get a little more presence.

Other than that, you have to rework your onstage 'space'. Hearing yourself is actually very important so you know how you fit into your band's overall sound.

Methinks it's a monitor/stage issue if the people in the audience can hear you well, AND dig your tone - find a way to hear yourself without changing your sound too much. In other words, don't put your rig next to the guitarist's rig - maybe move it next to the drummer's hi-hat. I've noticed that when I move around, I can hear things differently.

Good luck! Having an NS-4CR makes me jealous! lol
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back