Help - My Dimension bass WON'T STOP GROWLING!!!

[shawshank72]

Help! My wife won't stop giving me head!

This is not a problem.

Classic

 

[gjohnson441496]

Have you tried feeding it?

Yeah, but the shrooms I fed it only made it GROWLIER.

 

[gjohnson441496]

Hi there,
I have the same issue with my G&L L2000. I love the look and feel of the bass. It plays amazingly, balances well but the pickups are soooo hot! Forget using effects pedals with it. Especially distortion or overdrive. I've tried many different strings on it, DR, Rotosound, Dunlop I think I may go back to the D'addarios XL's that shipped with it or SIT makes a string specifically for G&L's. Good luck with your search! Those Dimensions look like awesome basses. I wish Fender would have installed a passive switch though. It would have save them coming out with the Dimension Standards.
Take care,
Brent

Thanks Brent. I'm about to install the D'Addarrio's now...

 

[gjohnson441496]

My squier Dimension has the same 'issue.' The only remedy I've found was radical adjustments of my EQ. It appears to be aggressive in the upper-mids and lower treble frequencies.

Exactly!

 

[Third Stone From the Sun]

I love growl in my funk sound

 

[wvbass]

Yep. Nickel strings is the place to start. And if Wooten has a signature brand strings, it is almost guaranteed to be completely midrange and growl free...

I don't have a ton of Dimension experience, but I know what you are talking about. There is an inherent tone there no matter what. I don't see why that would exclude the bass from being funk-able, though.

 

[gjohnson441496]

Yep. Nickel strings is the place to start. And if Wooten has a signature brand strings, it is almost guaranteed to be completely midrange and growl free...

I don't have a ton of Dimension experience, but I know what you are talking about. There is an inherent tone there no matter what. I don't see why that would exclude the bass from being funk-able, though.

It was too pronounced for me. Well, it's time for me to try out these new strings. First change for this bass. Here I go...

 

[gjohnson441496]

Every time I come to TB for advice, I get it and it works. The D'Addario Nickel Wound EXL170's give me the tone I was searching for. TONS of punch. The clarity and mids are smooth and not outrageously over the top as they were with the Fender strings, and I still get growl when I switch to the neck pup. Don't get me wrong about those Fender strings though. They had a ton of growl but it was all over all 5 switch settings. The new strings give me balance.

Thanks for all of your responses.

 

[singlemalt]

The Pure Blues are pretty sweet. And they come in sets as light as .100-40.

Bassstringsonline.com will set you up.

I tried them on a whim and ended up with the lowest, easiest playing set up yet. Minimal relief, no buzz, super low action.

The outer wrap is very much like DR's nickel lowriders, but the Pure Blues are much softer and slinkier. Very responsive. Killing it for finger funk and slap, plenty of beef for slower finger style.

That Victor guy might be on to something.

 

[Rocinante_x1]

String it with Flats and cut your high mids. Turn the tone knob down. That's all I can say hava

 

[Mr_O'B]

Vic can make anything sound good. I've used D'Addario's before with good results. I'm leaning towards the D'Addario Nickel wound. I can get 2 sets for the price of one on Amazon. I'll call GC and see if they will match that so I can get them today...

Yes, the Two Pack is a great deal!

 

[Lownotes75]

I actually like the original Fender Strings on my Dimensions.

D'Addario Nickel EXL165's also work for me. I have a very well used set on my HH5 at the moment that I have left on for my blues trio because I have discovered they now give me more of an old school thump while retaining that earthy organic growl only the D bass can do.
Its not a "dead' sound however, most likely because of the 18v preamp and the pickups still giving plenty of definition and nuance.

My answer - don't change your strings!!!!

 

[Ric5]

I have a American Deluxe Dimension bass IV HH. Feels great and is easy to play, but it growls in every setting. The growl is what I initially loved about the bass, but now that I'm incorporating funk into my repertoire, all that growling is noisome. I'm still using the original Fender strings that came with it (Fender® USA Bass 7250M, NPS. 045-.105 Gauges), and I'm thinking that changing strings will help but I'm at a loss for what type of strings would produce less growl without going to the other spectrum of being too flat or whatever. I'm coming to you guys because I don't want to spend a lot of time, money and ENERGY looking for the right strings (iI've done that before with other basses). I've posted this here in the bass section just in case it's not the strings. Maybe I need to add an effect unit? I don't know.

so much for the funnies ...

scoop the mids and the growl goes away

 

[Stranger Danger]

Noisome - disagreeable or unpleasant (The second meaning of the word), and the growl in this case is disagreeable and unpleasant.

Okay, I get it, it's my fault, but this bass feels right and the frets are not "jumbo" (they don't stick up as far as the ones on my Jazz bass), which allows me to slide up smoother.

The neck pup is growly also.

I may try the Labella Flats or some other Flats, and adjusting the volume as suggested.

You guys crack me up all day long and I'm serious.

Thanks for the reality check

What kind of amp?

 

[lewink]

I hear you

Don't worry- it will soon be midnight and your birthday will be over for another year.

 

[gjohnson441496]

The Pure Blues are pretty sweet. And they come in sets as light as .100-40.

Bassstringsonline.com will set you up.

I tried them on a whim and ended up with the lowest, easiest playing set up yet. Minimal relief, no buzz, super low action.

The outer wrap is very much like DR's nickel lowriders, but the Pure Blues are much softer and slinkier. Very responsive. Killing it for finger funk and slap, plenty of beef for slower finger style.

That Victor guy might be on to something.

I may give them a try in the future. Victor Wooten has never led me wrong (Hartke, Boss RC 300), but I bought 2 sets of the D'Addarios for $21 (GC matched the Amazon price), and I'm happy with those. Thanks.

 

[john_g]

It growls...playing alone at home or in the mix with your band? Alot of times how it sounds solo is not how it sounds live in a band mix. Regardless, I concur that either nickelwounds or pressurewounds from GHS might be a way to go.

 

[gjohnson441496]

I actually like the original Fender Strings on my Dimensions.

D'Addario Nickel EXL165's also work for me. I have a very well used set on my HH5 at the moment that I have left on for my blues trio because I have discovered they now give me more of an old school thump while retaining that earthy organic growl only the D bass can do.
Its not a "dead' sound however, most likely because of the 18v preamp and the pickups still giving plenty of definition and nuance.

My answer - don't change your strings!!!!

LOL. I'm DEFINITELY keeping them because the growl is intense for real. The Fender strings are not bad at all.

 

[gjohnson441496]

so much for the funnies ...

scoop the mids and the growl goes away

ROFL! Thanks for this.

 

[gjohnson441496]

What kind of amp?

I have a Hartke LH1000 but I'm playing through my Alesis mixer with headphones for recording.