How to get more treble from the Pbass..

[JGbassman]

Daddario Chromes?

Yes. Their light gauge are pretty flexible in my book, in fact I prefer the standard gauge for their tension, but it's been noted some players here used to low tension flats or round wounds have struggled with them. I've used flats by fender, earnie ball, and rotosound, and the chromes felt about the same as those as a comparison, so it's all subjective I guess.

 

[Drucifer]

Strings start out bright and become deader (is that a word?). If yours are old, then new strings or cleaning your old strings might be the ticket. Some flats are brighter than others, you might be able to find what you're looking for with another set of flats. If not, then you can get all the treble you need and then some with stainless steel round wounds. I used to play RotoSounds with my '75 P and it could get that clank that Chris Squire/Entwistle could get.

EDIT: I would try these first before messing with the pickups.

 

[FishDub]

This ^^^ (what JGBassman said)

500K pots will be a lot brighter. The only drawback is that when you DON'T want that brightness, you'll have to turn it down, and the taper on 500K pots doesn't tend to be very linear so it can be hard to dial in the tone you want.

The other option not already mentioned is to install a series/parallel switch (you can use a push/pull pot so it doesn't require extra holes in the pickguard). The parallel option will thin the tone and give it more jazz-like articulation, but again there's a drawback - you'll lose volume, so you'll need to compensate for that.

I'd try Chromes before I went with an option that required soldering. I've never gotten on with Chromes but some people swear by them.

Interesting...sounds almost like the S1 switch that Fender had years ago..

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Most bass players really fall short on realizing how much you can change the overall sound of your bass just by adjusting your plucking hand. That's one of the reasons I love so much my P, with just one tone control all the EQ lies in my fingertips.

One tip:
. Very high volume on your amp (flat EQ, please!) + very light touch with your fingers = lots of attack and high end without even considering EQ options.

I’m well aware of the changes in tone you can get using your hands alone. You’re still going to be working within the limits of whatever instrument you’re using at the time, and your fingers can’t add a 15dB boost at 2000hz, or make an envelope filter, etc. Tone goes well beyond the fingers.

 

[FishDub]

Strings start out bright and become deader (is that a word?). If yours are old, then new strings or cleaning your old strings might be the ticket. Some flats are brighter than others, you might be able to find what you're looking for with another set of flats. If not, then you can get all the treble you need and then some with stainless steel round wounds. I used to play RotoSounds with my '75 P and it could get that clank that Chris Squire/Entwistle could get.

EDIT: I would try these first before messing with the pickups.

Yeah I am looking for the smooth yet bitey treble with the tone control completely off...not so much clanky but jazz-like

 

[FishDub]

I think the Jazz bass is in the midst of the future GAS I may have

 

[5StringBlues]

Lowering the whole pickup down may help.


The closer the string to the pickup, the more mids.


Lowering may give you a more scooped sound.


It's gonna lower your output too but your sound should be more "Jazz bass like".

 

[Gaolee]

Lose the flats

Cobalt flats if the OP likes flats. Assuming somebody didn't already mention it.

 

[Krisfield]

Lighter gauge G string?

 

[SteveBassJr]

I use an outboard pre amp.
Simple bass and treble control .
I rather not do anything to the bass, i love its tone. My P bass really punches out.
I use a diffrent one with my J.
Just a little juice goes along way.

 

[Swerve]

Install a J pickup at the bridge.

 

[Kukulkan61]

If you destroy that bass by putting a Jazz pup in it I will find you...

 

[Mvilmany]

Before you do something terrible like mod the electronics or put round wounds on it, try the Chromes.

Your Tort will thank you.

 

[Zermelo]

I’m well aware of the changes in tone you can get using your hands alone. You’re still going to be working within the limits of whatever instrument you’re using at the time, and your fingers can’t add a 15dB boost at 2000hz, or make an envelope filter, etc. Tone goes well beyond the fingers.

Well... it was the OP that said "how to get more treble FROM THE PBASS"

And there is A LOT to be done before even changing strings, setup or hardware...

 

[pbass2]

This ^^^ (what JGBassman said)

500K pots will be a lot brighter. The only drawback is that when you DON'T want that brightness, you'll have to turn it down, and the taper on 500K pots doesn't tend to be very linear so it can be hard to dial in the tone you want.

The other option not already mentioned is to install a series/parallel switch (you can use a push/pull pot so it doesn't require extra holes in the pickguard). The parallel option will thin the tone and give it more jazz-like articulation, but again there's a drawback - you'll lose volume, so you'll need to compensate for that.

I'd try Chromes before I went with an option that required soldering. I've never gotten on with Chromes but some people swear by them.

I agree--try Chromes, they might just tick all the boxes for you. They're super versatile strings.

 

[maplenecked]

Try some EB Cobalt flats! I like them much more than chromes. They feel more slinky and have a nice upper end that even sounds great slapped but retain that smooth flat feel. Those CV 60s are getting rare so I would try tertiary stuff like a preamp pedal before busting out the tools. Good luck brother!

 

[rafitoprtx]

I fix mine with Nickle strings. I started with the fenders 9050 i think. Awesome strings then i played in a open mic and they give a free set of strings. Dr Sunbeams. I use them and love them. I use them in both my basses.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

Play over the imaginary J bass bridge pickup area. Even with flats you should notice brighter tones.

 

[gjohnson441496]

Ok so I absolutely love my Squier CV 60s Pbass(Fiesta Red/Tort) which I recently acquired. I have been trying to coax a bit more treble out of the G string area but it doesn't seem to have that burp treble of the jazz bass, which makes sense of course and many would agree with. I have thought of a few options and yes- I have raised the pickup closer to the G and have messed with the Eq on the amp, and have boosted the tone on the bass itself. So have any of you managed to be successful with this? Possible options:
-Change the pickup to a Fender 60s/vintage
-Change to maybe TI Jazz flats(currently strung with Labella Low tension flats)
-Add a J pickup(which would destroy the originality of the bass)
-Just get a Jazz bass..(not an immediate option but will be at some point)
What are your thoughts and/or personal success stories?

This... Aguilar OBP-3TK 3-Band Boost/Cut On Board Bass Preamp w/Toggle

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I recently measured the stock controls on a Vintage Modified P, and the values were very low- the tone control was 200K, and I think the volume was 220K. That really loads the pickup down.

The 500K Bourns pots I replaced them with were both on the high side, and it really woke up the top end. So did levelling the thick polyester finish on the neck- that glop is extremely thick. I didn't take it back to bare wood, just removed about half of the finish. It feels much more resonant and lively now, and it's evident in the tone.

Someone else mentioned pulling the tone cap- a better solution is to leave the cap in place, but lift the tone pot out of the circuit altogether- that gives a moderate upper mid and treble boost, helping articulation without changing the basic P-Bass tone. Back in college I put a mini-toggle on my '64 P-bass. It gave me the best of both worlds, because I could preset a darker tone for R&B, etc. with the tone control, then bypass it with the switch for more aggressive songs.

The biggest thing, is to ditch the flats. That is NOT the only tone available from a Precision. Think Entwhistle and Roger Glover when they were using Fenders, the list goes on and on...