I'm an amateur jazz player, new to TalkBass. I started out 40 years ago playing more rock, so I still play electric (I'd love to learn acoustic but I'm getting older and probably can't due to back problems). My bass is an Ibanez SR800. I love the action; it's very playable and I've been happy with it for many years now. But the more I play, the more I realize the G string sounds different; it's a bit thinner and brighter than the same notes played on the D string. I play D'Addario XL .045/.066/.080/.100 flatwounds because I like the darker tone and the easiness -- I want to get close to an acoustic sound. Any suggestions? Should I try a thinner gauge G? Other ideas?
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G string sounds different
- Thread starter garyo123
- Start date
In my experience the notes on the thinner string have always sounded thinner, less robust than the same note played on the previous thicker string. Brand doesn't matter. It's just physics. You might try going to a thicker G string, perhaps a 50, to get a bit closer in tone. Definitely do not go to a thinner G. that would increase the difference in tone.
^^^^^ Agree with Budbear here. I have had the same problem with my Jazz bass and just increased the gauge of the G string. It worked for me. After some research on my own, it appears that the gauges of string company sets are not "scientifically" based. Nothing wrong with mixing it up (within reason! 
).
).IMO G strings never sound good in the lower frets. It would sound better with a shorter scale, the E or B would conversely sound better with a longer scale. Fanned frets try to emulate that but a bass is always a compromise between scale length and register. It's similar for a DB too.
There a few adjustments that can help. As @eddybuzzard said, try adjusting the PU height although that may alter the timbre as well as the fundamental. That brings up the option of EQing that secondary problem out.
@Budbear also suggested a heavier string. More mass vibrating above the PU pole may make a heavier sound.
However there is also the possibility that a lighter string may have an increased amplitude ie it moves further above the poles. I noticed increased resonance on my DB with a lighter string..
I cannot say which. It depends on what string tension works best with your bass's inherent resonance I'd try both and EQ the fundamental differently for each, before you add any tone to your sound.
I also have a feeling that some cabs match bass's sound better than others. My eventual combination was a small ported 15" cab with a reverse P and 45-60-80-105. Or my DB with a tiny sealed 12" combo. Trial and error - better but never perfect.
Let us know if you have any breakthroughs.
There a few adjustments that can help. As @eddybuzzard said, try adjusting the PU height although that may alter the timbre as well as the fundamental. That brings up the option of EQing that secondary problem out.
@Budbear also suggested a heavier string. More mass vibrating above the PU pole may make a heavier sound.
However there is also the possibility that a lighter string may have an increased amplitude ie it moves further above the poles. I noticed increased resonance on my DB with a lighter string..
I cannot say which. It depends on what string tension works best with your bass's inherent resonance I'd try both and EQ the fundamental differently for each, before you add any tone to your sound.
I also have a feeling that some cabs match bass's sound better than others. My eventual combination was a small ported 15" cab with a reverse P and 45-60-80-105. Or my DB with a tiny sealed 12" combo. Trial and error - better but never perfect.
Let us know if you have any breakthroughs.
I had the same experience with the D'A Chromes Flats, ie a bright and twangy G. I switched to the Fender 9050L flats (45-60-80-100) and never looked back. Similar to the Chromes but better-balanced across all four strings both in tone and feel.
I recently swapped a 10 month old set of Daddario flats for a 2 month old set - but I left the old G string in place. This was the best tonal balance between the G string and other strings that I'd ever managed with them.
Next time I have a fresh set, I might employ one of the various techniques for deadening flats on just that string.
For what it's worth, I've found the tonal balance on the Daddario sets I had better than with La Bella FM and FL. The best set of flats I've had in that regard was a 40-100 set of Rotosound Monel Flats: very even tone across all four strings. And the Fenders were good for that too.
Next time I have a fresh set, I might employ one of the various techniques for deadening flats on just that string.
For what it's worth, I've found the tonal balance on the Daddario sets I had better than with La Bella FM and FL. The best set of flats I've had in that regard was a 40-100 set of Rotosound Monel Flats: very even tone across all four strings. And the Fenders were good for that too.
