How you deal with a too loud B string?

[maturanesa]

If it's clipping in Cubase, you can apply the HPF there.

Do you have another 5 string that does not do this

Yes, a custom that is totally different, neck throught, tight string spacing, soapbar pup.
Same string brand, super balanced

 

[bogwart]

Hi!
I have a 5 string P Bass with a Low B that overpowers the other 4.
Lowering the pickup doesnt work because it make the E string, and A quieter too.
Unbalance persist.

Rising the action of B string would be a solution, but currently the B string saddle is at the same high as E string, so the action is noticiable higher than the rest of the strings. Still so unbalanced.

Tried different gauges. Heavier still moves a lot and create a greater signal. Lighter = more floppy but still enough to create greater peaks than the rest.

Trying to find a solution that doesnt include buying 1 millon strings in order to get one with a less magnetic signal to get balance

any ideas?
It is more than annoying specially when recording it keeps clipping, with the rest of the strings with a quieter signal input.

thanx!

Remove the B string...it's not necessary and it's only getting in your way. Problem solved.

 

[hasbeen]

No, acoustically sounds like normal

That's good news. That means you can fix it with eq'ing, pickups etc. That's why I play an instrument I'm considering buying, strictly acoustically for quite a bit before I plug it in.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

Try a tort pickguard, seems to the the cure-all! (Come on, a little humor on a Friday)

That's why I ordered one!

 

[Whale guy]

Try a tort pickguard, seems to the the cure-all! (Come on, a little humor on a Friday)

That, and of course, fire the drummer.

 

[XLunacy]

An idea : could this unbalance be unavoidable to a certain degree with 5 string (passive) P (non-reverse pickup) basses, which would partly explain why they are so uncommon?

 

[Up the dose]

Play with a lighter touch when playing on the B string and try attacking the string closer to the bridge, that should take some of the boom out. This sounds like it could be a technique issue, not an equipment issue.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

I'd be curious how the situation would react to detuning a whole step. I once had a set of heavier gauge Ken Smith strings that I swear torqued a thin neck when tuned BEADG.

Also, any pics of the strings over the pups and of the bridge looking out towards the nut?

 

[makanudo]

I had this issue with bartolini split in line single coils. Low A string output and Overpowering B string output.

Swapped them out for Aguilar DCB's and everything is balanced. Maybe a change in pickups is in order. I tried everything from changing distances, using compression and EQ but now It sounds balanced straight into the Interface/amp.

 

[JKos]

If you lower the B side of the pickup, the A string output should not decrease. You may actually need to raise the A string side a tad, too. Measure the pickup to A string height, lower the B side, then raise the A side to achieve the previous measurement.

 

[Blue Swede]

Lower that side of the pickup.
Compressor.
HPF.
Lighter B gauge.

Any would help with part of the problem which is that the mass of a B is higher.

This, sums up my approach exactly.

 

[DaveParker39]

I would go with the lighter gauge and tweak EQ from your amp/preamp to lower some of those big fundamental low B notes.

 

[Boneless]

you mentioned, you're recording. you should have one in your DAW. and a frequency analyzer that will help you understanding, is it like louder in all frequencies or has the sub-sonic boom (a rather common case).

lower the gain until you won't clip the input, at 24 bits you have not to worry if your signal is strong enough after this.

Just a nitpick (of no consequence at all): 24 bits are the bit depth of the resulting *file*, but basically no converters go beyond 20/21 bits. The lower three bits are noise. Still, 20 bits mean a potential SNR of 120dB. You can record peaking at -18dBFS (and you shouldn't, -18dBFS should be the integrated reading, seen through a VU meter or an RMS meter, not the peak value) and still have 100dB SNR. (A bass guitar is going to be much noisier anyway).

 

[tpa]

Nope. The original pup is a fender style and the custom a got have no exposed poles

Maybe the not original pu is

1. Not appropriate for this bass (e.g. designed for reverse P)
   
2. Not mounted correctly
3. Not trimmed correctly (active?)
4. Defect?

 

[andruca]

An idea : could this unbalance be unavoidable to a certain degree with 5 string (passive) P (non-reverse pickup) basses, which would partly explain why they are so uncommon?

Not a trivial point at all. I find the low B indistinct and boomy on any P 5er, no exception (while retaining nothing of the P growl really). Just not to the (apparently unplayable) extent the OP is describing.

 

[Fynn]

It's the age old problem of the lower strings being higher output. More mass = more induction...
A couple ways to counteract this, but the least intrusive is to just adjust the pickup height. You mentioned the E and A also get quieter, but is that really a problem to you? The E and A should naturally be higher output than the D and G anyways. So maybe it's just a matter of balancing it correctly. Having the pickup at such a height that the D and G are closest and the A, E and B are furthest away.
Another solution that I like is to just use a compressor and compress the signal correctly. Though my compressor lives after my gain staging, so the slightly higher ouput on the A and E do have an effect on my envelope and gain pedals. I simply employ the third solution that I can think of, which is to just play accordingly. Play the B with a considerably lighter touch than the rest.

 

[Yahboy]

Mod it reverse P, BE / ADG.

 

[Slevage]

Ignore the other strings.
Adjust the pickup height AND the gain structure ie levels your signal chain until the B string doesn’t clip.
Then, adjust the other strings accordingly, don’t forget to use your ears.

 

[Yahboy]

I found lot ppl reply EQ tweak. When remove the B boomy sound, you also make both DG string sound lost their fullness.....

 

[XLunacy]

Not a trivial point at all. I find the low B indistinct and boomy on any P 5er, no exception (while retaining nothing of the P growl really). Just not to the (apparently unplayable) extent the OP is describing.

There was a thread a few weeks ago, about how to get a great sounding B string. Two of the common answers that I remember of are "having a bridge pickup" and "going active". Not saying that these are mandatory, but it makes sense that missing those two ingredients makes things a bit harder.