Looking for a more "basic" sounds

[Elrend]

Get a 6-string, in my experience, they're the most sonically balanced basses.

In all probability this is due to the pickups having to differentiate between very low, very high and the regular range.

 

[taygunov]

Coming from a guy with a BTB I agree that BTB's have a really aggressive punchy sound. I had a passive switch added to it and that along with some broken in roto's and some barts, the tone is very warm and sits right in with the mix like the last piece to a puzzle.
However mine has mahogany and is neck-through which is which gives it a lot of the warmth. So on second thought maybe you should get rid of yours... I'd say get a P or maybe even an Artcore series. Cheers, hope I helped

 

[roccobladr]

i forgot i also have some hi beams on it too lol. i love the aggressive punchy sound it has, dont get me wrong, but for the cover band i just need something more warm and balanced. i think i am going to look into a p bass and throw some flats on it, i suppose.

 

[your idol]

i forgot i also have some hi beams on it too lol. i love the aggressive punchy sound it has, dont get me wrong, but for the cover band i just need something more warm and balanced. i think i am going to look into a p bass and throw some flats on it, i suppose.

my P baby has Hi beams and barts and i wouldnt change it fo the world , the barts really mellow out the punchy brightness of the hi beams..the perfect balance give it a P bass on steriods vibe

 

[Craig_S]

I have a 4 string IBanez BTB series with the active preamp. It must be the active pickups because my sound is just too aggressive for what I do. I cut through too much I think.

Set your preamp flat and set your pickup blend favoring the front pickup, with some of the bridge still in it. I owned a BTB 5 string for about two years. It got a killer P-Bass(ish) sound. I didn't boost or cut anything; I just left the EQ knobs centered.

Also: Put some nickel strings on it. The High Beams are helping with the aggressive sound.

EDIT: I just read about your mid (stacked) control. Don't let that shop B.S. you. I ordered one of those pots directly from Ibanez once. I broke the shaft off when I hit it on a monitor while running from the crowd back to the stage. The part cost $11.00 and change, if I remember correctly.