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Getting more "bridge tone" from a Jazz-style bass?

Dropzilla

Dropzilla

Jun 23, 2007
96
131
#1
The bass in question is a Sire V7 (ash,5-st)

I love the way the bass sounds sounds when both pickups are full on and when the Neck pup is solo, however I feel like the bridge pickup is decent, but doesn't have the 'bite' i would like. Is there any way to get a little more of that unique character in a bass that doesn't have it?

Should I be looking at a new bridge? can strings have an effect on this? are there other factors to consider?

Any suggestions are appreciated.
 
#3
What are you looking for from it? The bridge tone is always going to be more trebley and therefore potentially sound tinny or weaker by comparison to the other positions. If it is just too quiet then the suggestion above (raising the pup) sounds sensible.

My concern would be if you like the blended sound by playing with the bridge pup you're playing with that sound too... maybe you're just not a fan of bridge only pup tone? I know I'm not especially, I like to use my bridge pup to ensure harmonics come out nice and clean and then blend the neck pup to give depth/warmth.

Only other thing I could think would be putting a switchable eq somewhere and boosting the frequencies you feel are lacking a little.
 
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#4
Gorn said:
Have you tried raising it? A solo'd bridge pickup sounds a certain way. What unique character are you looking for exactly?
Click to expand...

It seems high already. its definitely not a matter of volume. i'm sure the pickup itself is completely fine in that sense. i dont really know how to describe what im looking for i guess. :(

Jam Jarman said:
What are you looking for from it? The bridge tone is always going to be more trebley and therefore potentially sound tinny or weaker by comparison to the other positions. If it is just too quiet then the suggestion above (raising the pup) sounds sensible.

My concern would be if you like the blended sound by playing with the bridge pup you're playing with that sound too... maybe you're just not a fan of bridge only pup tone? I know I'm not especially, I like to use my bridge pup to ensure harmonics come out nice and clean and then blend the neck pup to give depth/warmth.

Only other thing I could think would be putting a switchable eq somewhere and boosting the frequencies you feel are lacking a little.
Click to expand...

The thing is, it doesn't sound tinny. on the contrary might not sound trebley enough. To be perfectly honest, I dont fuly know how to describe the sound im referring to. I suppose you could call it that jaco sound, but im not really trying to sound more jaco.... i dont know if that makes sense.

I am a fan of the solo tone, and on other basses, i greatly favor the bridge pickup. I think it may be a matter of spacing, but i dont fully know.
 
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#5
Dropzilla said:
It seems high already. its definitely not a matter of volume. i'm sure the pickup itself is completely fine in that sense. i dont really know how to describe what im looking for i guess. :(



The thing is, it doesn't sound tinny. on the contrary might not sound trebley enough. To be perfectly honest, I dont fuly know how to describe the sound im referring to. I suppose you could call it that jaco sound, but im not really trying to sound more jaco.... i dont know if that makes sense.

I am a fan of the solo tone, and on other basses, i greatly favor the bridge pickup. I think it may be a matter of spacing, but i dont fully know.
Click to expand...
Changing pickup height isn't just about volume. It'll change the sound too. Play around with the height of both pickups and you might end up happier with the available tones.
 
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#7
I've upgraded pickups to Fender AVRI 75 on Squier VM 70 Jazz, and bridge PU sounds huge with a lot of treble, with roundwound EXL 170 it's great, also with tone rolled down. I'd say that PU is little weak.
 
#8
Well, I am no expert.

But I changed both the stock pickups on my Ibanez Mikro, which has a J/P figuration.

Being a budget band, and being exceptionally well build for such a bass, the pickups was the weakest link.

I mean the stock neck P pickup was not bad sounding, just lacked a bit of definition and clarity, while the neck J pickup was kind of wimpy thin and lifeless soloed.

After the pickup swap however, a pair of EMG Geezer Butler, even the bridge J pickup soloed now sounds nice clear, defined and full of life, while still being quite treblely as is it's nature and function of course (I actually never use that configuration and mostly play both pickups full on and with full tone, for a slightly aggressive punchy tone or P soloed with the tone dimmed for a mellow deep tone).

Also as a nice side effect I now get zero hum from the bass, even if it is not properly shielded.

I would probably look into changing the bridge pickup of your bass.

As I said I am far from an expert when it comes to pickups, but I would personally maybe look into a J EMG Geezer Butler, which is based on an improved version of the old Fender pickups with a bit more bite and punch, nice quite even frequency spectrum, or a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder J pickup which has a pretty hot output but with more emphasis on the lows and highs.

Given your bass is passive that is.
 
#10
Dropzilla said:
It seems high already. its definitely not a matter of volume. i'm sure the pickup itself is completely fine in that sense. i dont really know how to describe what im looking for i guess. :(



The thing is, it doesn't sound tinny. on the contrary might not sound trebley enough. To be perfectly honest, I dont fuly know how to describe the sound im referring to. I suppose you could call it that jaco sound, but im not really trying to sound more jaco.... i dont know if that makes sense.

I am a fan of the solo tone, and on other basses, i greatly favor the bridge pickup. I think it may be a matter of spacing, but i dont fully know.
Click to expand...

On other basses you favor the b-pickup? are these J-Type basses too?

The position is not the same on all J-Type basses nor are the pickups!

And last not least for different sounds change the positon of your right hand.

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass
 
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#12
UNICORN BASS said:
This may sound like overkill but when i adjust pups i measure the heights on both the bass and treble sides as a baseline with a steel rule or caliper and keep a log of the adjustments.
Click to expand...

I'd say it's overkill, indeed. Measurements are a pain, just go on what feels best, and/or eyeballing it. That's what companies like Roscoe do.
 
#14
If we're talking about the same sound, a bit Pastorius like, that's the way I do it on a traditional passive Jazz with VVT-electronics:
I never only use the bridge pickup - there is something happening when both pickups are at an unequal volume. I turn the tone back, fully back or close to full. I set the bridge pickup to full volume and then I raise the volume on the neck pickup from zero to maybe 15-30%.

I don't know if the Sire has the classic Jazz Bass passive electronics when the active preamp is turned off.
I could never archieve something similar with basses that only allow to switch one pickup or both of or on like on a G&L L2000.
 

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