Keeping the low end on higher notes?

[magradygrind]

Hey all, new guy/first time poster here!

I play an Epiphone EB3. I really like the neck pickup because I can usually get more low end on the higher register and do lines similar to the Beatles' Rain.

But obviously, an EB3 doesn't work for everything because it's sort of a really specific sound. Is there any way I could retain that low end on any other pickup configuration like, let's just say for the sake of the most basic sound, a p bass? Or am I just doomed to switching to the EB3 forever?

 

[MCS4]

Some options could include:

(1) Use a compressor, particularly one that is known for a fattening/tone-coloring effect (one of the reasons that I didn't like my old Boss LMB-2 was that I felt it make the upper register notes sound too much like lower register notes, which sounds like exactly what you want);

(2) Use an octaver with a blend or clean/octave volume knobs, and dial in just a little bit of low octave (this would have a different tonal character though);

(3) If you have a two-pickup bass, like a jazz-style bass, try favoring or solo-ing the neck pickup;

(4) Flatwound strings;

(5) EQ pedal.

 

[kevteop]

Pick closer to the neck as you play higher notes.

 

[Feral Feline]

Install a Gibson mudbucker (swipe what's in your EB3) in a P-bass in the neck position. Rewire to suit either a blend knob or a switch to go between the P-bucker or the Gibbybucker.

 

[Swimming Bird]

I play a Gibson SB-300 - the neck pup is in a similar place, very close to the heel joint. Most Fender-style basses neck pups are near halfway between the heel and the bridge, so you'd likely need to install a pickup with additional routing and wiring to get a similar tone.

It depends on what kind of low end boost you're looking for, but (in addition to the suggestions above): Try an envelope filter with the sensitivity set to not trigger the envelope or a static filter. Also, experiment with tone knobs and consider a bass with active electronics or onboard preamp.

 

[smeet]

This is something I've always looked for.
Here's what I find helps:
- Flatwounds
- shorter scale bass
- Reverse-P configuration
- Non-hifi amplification (tube amp, mid-focused cabinet, no tweeter)
- Light touch with the finger pads on the high notes
- Move your hand (slightly) closer to the neck as you play higher notes.

 

[jmverdugo]

Use the E and A strings instead of D and G

 

[smeet]

Use the E and A strings instead of D and G

That's a good point. As you move up in pitch, first go up the low strings, then move across to the higher strings. The thinnest sounding part of an instrument is always the low frets on the high strings.

 

[Nephilymbass]

To me most of this is about your fingers. Where your plucking hand touches the strings and how they do so is the most important thing. Also midrange. I know midrange can sound nasty to a lot of people but in a mix it is essential that you have mids on your tone in order for the high notes to stand on their own two feet so to speak.

 

[magradygrind]

MCS4, does that compressor affect the lower register in any negative way, or it functions as it should, just with the top end sounding like that?

Install a Gibson mudbucker (swipe what's in your EB3) in a P-bass in the neck position. Rewire to suit either a blend knob or a switch to go between the P-bucker or the Gibbybucker.

I was thinking about routing out a place for some p bass pickups in the middle of my EB3 and wiring the 2nd position to switch those on, since I only ever use the neck or bridge, never together... I think it'd look and sound real cool