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More sustain?

#21
I would agree with pickup magnetic pull killing sustain if the strings are to close to the pups ...

are the strings getting dead ..?? dead/dying battery ..??

I definitely agree with checking all the pieces step by step ... try to narrow down what might be killing the signal ... !! one time I found a noise gate that was On that I had forgotten about ..!! whoops
 
#22
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Crank the sustain knob.

Only compressor I've ever used that I actually like. My bass has a lot of sustain anyways so I keep the sustain knob dialed all the way back but it could be useful in your situation.
 
#24
Mandavel said:
No idea where to post this, so I'll post it here.

How is it possible to get more sustain? I'm rolling with a 5 string, flatwound strings, into an MXR bass compressor, into my DAW, where I also slightly compress to fit into a mix, but my bass has little sustain. Even when I strike the note as cleanly and strongly as I can, there is still not enough to cover a 4 second space in a couple songs.

I have a feeling the flatwounds are part of the equation, perhaps my bass isn't set up correctly, maybe my compressor is also not set up correctly, but I feel these are the only things it could be.

Another option is that I'm also running through an OC-2 octaver, but when it's not engaged it could be tone sucking.

Anyone have any insight into this?
Click to expand...
My local luthier (Di Castelli) uses to include a extra bolt between neck and body, I sincerely no remember if I ask for this in the last changes that we made in my Precision.
Other option, more controversial I think, is to use the "Fat Finger" attached close to the machine heads, this is manufactured with same metal of old Bells so in the end of the day is an effect of bulk addition. If you think in resonance, yes this can help but I never saw some scientific study showing that the sustain is higher or not using this device.
 
#25
The Chuck said:
Anybody ever try one of those "fat finger" things? It's supposed to increase sustain.

View attachment 616047
Click to expand...
I use one, but honestly I don't know if really works or not. Is funny to use because a lot of musicians in the audiences come to ask what is that... of course I defend to the day I die, hahahahaha. OTOH we not have this available here in Brazil, I never saw here - so for some guys here I'm the guy of Fat Finger, LOL.
But I think this is not available anymore, one friend bring it to me from the US about 5 years ago and I never saw again.
Do you use? The Fat Finger works for you?
Look the Fat Finger device below the G machine head below:
20150303_184826.jpg

And please forget this Blue Steel strings, it's the worst strings set ever!!!!
 
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#28
Check that the saddles are sitting right on the bridge plate (i.e. that the 2 screws per saddle actually rest on the plate) Then check that the bridge plate is screwed correctly onto the body and that its flush (i.e. that here no dirt between the bridge plate and the body). You might also check that the strings are snugly sitting in the nut. After that all I can suggest is a High Density bridge, do you know what the bass body is actually made of. If its some cheap plank of wood you might be wasting you're time. Though I suspect the problem is with the bridge/body contact (not the strings, I have flats on my stingray and the ring all day)
 
#31
FrankLowend said:
I use one, but honestly I don't know if really works or not. Is funny to use because a lot of musicians in the audiences come to ask what is that... of course I defend to the day I die, hahahahaha. OTOH we not have this available here in Brazil, I never saw here - so for some guys here I'm the guy of Fat Finger, LOL.
But I think this is not available anymore, one friend bring it to me from the US about 5 years ago and I never saw again.
Do you use? The Fat Finger works for you?
Look the Fat Finger device below the G machine head below:
View attachment 616169
And please forget this Blue Steel strings, it's the worst strings set ever!!!!
Click to expand...
I was going to try one once when I bought a bass that seemed to have an issue. I ended up getting rid of that bass for other reasons so I never bought a Fat Finger. I've seen on youtube demonstrations of it and it does seem to work.
 
#38
AlexanderB said:
What TYPE of bass is it? Cheap hollow body or good, hard/heavy solidbody?
Ditch the flats. Light weight rounds give more sustain. Setup? Pickup height?

Also, "4 seconds"? How MUCH does it drop? 15 dB? 30 dB?
Click to expand...

Fast enough to not hold solid for 4 seconds. I don't know in exact dB, but it's pretty abysmal.

I haven't had enough time to work on it yet, but I'll test all of these things out when I am able.

Thanks everyone, great responses!
 
#39
Something to keep in mind - you will get more "perceived" sustain if you control your plucking hand technique such that the attack of the note is as close in level to the sustained part of the note as possible.

Hitting the strings hard doesn't really result in more sustain; it will actually seem like less, because the attack is so much louder than the rest of the held note it seems like the note is dying off faster than if you hit a bit softer.

Use the right technique in combination with the right settings on your compressor and you should get all the sustain you're looking for. Granted, some basses will have more sustain than others, but practically all basses will have enough for most needs.
 
#40
L
BruceWane said:
Something to keep in mind - you will get more "perceived" sustain if you control your plucking hand technique such that the attack of the note is as close in level to the sustained part of the note as possible.

Hitting the strings hard doesn't really result in more sustain; it will actually seem like less, because the attack is so much louder than the rest of the held note it seems like the note is dying off faster than if you hit a bit softer.

Use the right technique in combination with the right settings on your compressor and you should get all the sustain you're looking for. Granted, some basses will have more sustain than others, but practically all basses will have enough for most needs.
Click to expand...
Left hand is so important for sustain too.
 

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