My SG Reissue lacks low end on Neck Pup! help! [+mp3]

[ohnoadrummer]

hey all, first post here.

i got my gibson sg reissue bass (short scale @ 30") back in september and when i first tried to record (with a Radial JDI box) a low thumping sound with it i noticed that any note lower than an A on the E string lacks a real punch.

it's really only when i roll off a little of the bridge pickup and use the neck. otherwise the low end can sometimes be a little hot on the bridge when the neck is rolled off. i have the bridge pickup quite close to the strings, but i'm quite happy with how this pickup is set up.

anywho, to demonstrate what i'm experiencing i've uploaded an Invalid Link Removedof me playing a Fmaj7 to G7 arpeggio in 3 setups.

each setup is divided by a little muted slap

the first has the neck pickup rolled off to about 8. i use fingers placed on the bridge pickup.

second has both pickups on 10. fingers placed between bridge and neck pups.

third has the bridge pickup rolled off to 8 and fingers placed at neck pup. this one i also play a G5-F5-D5-C5 sorta type thing to demonstrate the volume discrepancy between the strings.

the last one is playing the same thing but on a 34" scale Yamaha BBN4 III with both pickups at 10.

i'm guessing the problem is either the strings (they're stock) or the fact that the neck pickup is kinda far from the strings. it's still really thumpy and niiice on the other strings though.

or.. .. its what i'll just have to live with for getting a short scale bass.

IMPORTANT - i know my playing is off at points. don't tell me. ALSO, the tone is at 0 for everything

 

[BassDaddy77]

I'm interested in hearing what everyone's theory is about your lack of low end thump. My Epi EB-O (single neck P'up) has so much low end thump that I roll the bass and low mid knobs off 3 clicks from flat on the amp. I would think that the "real deal" Gibson P'ups would be of a much higher output and much punchier than the Epiphone, right? Sorry I couldn't be of any help, but this is quite intriguing...

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

I have a 2005 Gibson SG bass.

Put a set of DM Blue Steels on. 45-105 gauge or close to that size. Don't use a 100 for the E string.

Make sure each individual poll piece is set to its optimal height. Not too close or else it'll fart out on you.

Be sue the neck is relatively flat, which you can achieve by adjusting the truss rod.

Let me know how you make out.

 

[funkytoe]

I also have a 2005 SG bass. I agree about going with a .105 E string. My favorite strings for the SG are the Ken Smith short scale rounds (custom balanced set). Really great strings for that bass. As your clips show, hand placement changes the tone quite a lot. Playing over the neck pickup gives me plenty of deep thump on my SG. Try some different strings. I think you'll be really happy you did.

 

[D.M.N.]

Could it be the DI box, or your recording settings? How is it when you play it through an amp? Maybe a set of flatwounds would help out.

 

[ohnoadrummer]

@DMN: i usually only play through a guitar amp (not very loudly though) or acoustically. my neighbour is awful. i was playing acoustic guitar in the kitchen and she called and complained.

i'll give new strings a shot. what are the benefits of getting short scale strings as opposed to normal scale strings?

 

[KeithAlanK]

Raise the neck pickup itself, or the pole piece on the E string.
A heavier E is great advice, too.

A proper setup isn't just about trussrod and action and intonation--musical instruments need to be balanced in every way, with an eye towards the owner's technique and sonic preferences.

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

@DMN: i usually only play through a guitar amp (not very loudly though) or acoustically. my neighbour is awful. i was playing acoustic guitar in the kitchen and she called and complained.

i'll give new strings a shot. what are the benefits of getting short scale strings as opposed to normal scale strings?

30" scale strings will have a smaller diameter at the end of the string that wraps around the tuning post, which will minimized fracturing of the string. Also, on some tuners, the hole which the end of the string fits into might be too small to accommodate the larger diameter of a 34" scale string, due to there not being any tapered down end.

However, this might not be a problem on the SG bass. The tuners, at least on mine, have large openings unlike the tuners on a vintage Gibson ED2 or a Hofner bass.

Try to get 30" scale strings if possible and be sure to get a .105 diameter E-string, and follow the recommendation in my previous post.

 

[funkytoe]

@DMN: i usually only play through a guitar amp (not very loudly though)

I think we may have found part of the problem. Most speakers in guitar amps are not designed to reproduce frequencies below 80 HZ. So, your speaker cannot produce the fundamental frequency for any note below around G# on your low E string. What you are hearing is just the 1st harmonic frequency for those low notes and above. This will definitely cause a perceived lack of low end.

If your budget allows, invest in a proper bass amplifier. I'll bet you will be surprised at the low end you can get from your SG then.

 

[rumblethump]

Also there is phasing issue that happens when balancing both pickups. Do you have this problem with the neck pickup soloed? I'd also slap a set of flatwounds on it.

 

[Tommygunn]

I think we may have found part of the problem. Most speakers in guitar amps are not designed to reproduce frequencies below 80 HZ. So, your speaker cannot produce the fundamental frequency for any note below around G# on your low E string. What you are hearing is just the 1st harmonic frequency for those low notes and above. This will definitely cause a perceived lack of low end.

If your budget allows, invest in a proper bass amplifier. I'll bet you will be surprised at the low end you can get from your SG then.

Yes, my steinberger has a lot of low end but through my guitar amp you'd never think so.

 

[ohnoadrummer]

I think we may have found part of the problem. Most speakers in guitar amps are not designed to reproduce frequencies below 80 HZ. So, your speaker cannot produce the fundamental frequency for any note below around G# on your low E string. What you are hearing is just the 1st harmonic frequency for those low notes and above. This will definitely cause a perceived lack of low end.

If your budget allows, invest in a proper bass amplifier. I'll bet you will be surprised at the low end you can get from your SG then.

i know thats part of it, but we're talking about the mp3 here. its from a DI.

i have a bass amp, i know guitar amps wont do it very well.

 

[ohnoadrummer]

well my string holes are quite thing so the DM blue steels i bought won't fit. that's my fault for not thinking ahead.

im gonna have to order strings online. both major music stores in my area (ottawa) don't have short scales with a 105.

ive settled it down to [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] or [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

i have a set of flats kicking around from years back when i bought a cheap used fretless. i think ill put em on my yammy and see if i wanna try for flats on a fretted instead of rounds.

 

[Miguel001]

Hi

I ve got the same problem with my Gibson SG reissue. E-String is a bit weaker than A-string. (with the neck pickup). And I find this uncomfortable.

Solution would be adjusting the polepieces, but, surprise!, polepieces just don t do anything. They are decoupled from the 2 magnetic bars!! Just try touching the polepieces with a metalic object like a screwdriver while connected to an amp, and check how there is NO transient sound coming out from the driver.

I phoned and mailed gibson about it. They say that there is no way of adjusting string to string volume on the neck pickup. (bridge mini humbucker polepieces work fine)
I understand that gibson favoured style (vintage pickup look) over functionality.
I dismantled the pickup, and confirmed that the polepieces are mounted on an aluminium non magnetic bar, wich lays down between the 2 magnet bars.

Maybe the reason for the E string being weaker is the fact that the magnet bars are rather short, and E string is over the edge of the bars, not having full magnetic field as A and D strings

I will experiment and try to get some more output from the E string before changing the pickup, cause I feel the tone of the pup is good.

Regards

Miguel
(Spain)

 

[Mudfuzz]

Hi

I ve got the same problem with my Gibson SG reissue. E-String is a bit weaker than A-string. (with the neck pickup). And I find this uncomfortable.

Solution would be adjusting the polepieces, but, surprise!, polepieces just don t do anything. They are decoupled from the 2 magnetic bars!! Just try touching the polepieces with a metalic object like a screwdriver while connected to an amp, and check how there is NO transient sound coming out from the driver.

I phoned and mailed gibson about it. They say that there is no way of adjusting string to string volume on the neck pickup. (bridge mini humbucker polepieces work fine)
I understand that gibson favoured style (vintage pickup look) over functionality.
I dismantled the pickup, and confirmed that the polepieces are mounted on an aluminium non magnetic bar, wich lays down between the 2 magnet bars.

Maybe the reason for the E string being weaker is the fact that the magnet bars are rather short, and E string is over the edge of the bars, not having full magnetic field as A and D strings

I will experiment and try to get some more output from the E string before changing the pickup, cause I feel the tone of the pup is good.

Regards

Miguel
(Spain)

Yeah I seen a reissue pickup without it's cover and it is in no way like a REAL EB pickup in any way shape of form
A EB neck pickup should be around 30k and have almost no highs, and the poles are adjustable for realz. Personally I didn't think the the SG was $1000+ above the epi EB3 at all.

 

[ohnoadrummer]

thankfully i got the faded version which is 300$ less

it's still really disappointing that an instrument at about 899$ has such a problem as this.. from a manufacturer as well reputed as gibson.

ridiculous..

im hoping the new strings will do something. if not, i may just get the DiMarzio Model One DP120. anyone tried one of those?

 

[Mudfuzz]

thankfully i got the faded version which is 300$ less

it's still really disappointing that an instrument at about 899$ has such a problem as this.. from a manufacturer as well reputed as gibson.

ridiculous..

im hoping the new strings will do something. if not, i may just get the DiMarzio Model One DP120. anyone tried one of those?

I have two basses with them, they are good pickups. They are not EB pickups and therefore sound like normal bass pickups. If you want the real deal... ebay.

As for "from a manufacturer as well reputed as gibson" it depends on who you ask...

 

[darkstorm]

Lol playing thru a guitar amp and expecting solid bass low end. Aint gonna happen.

 

[ohnoadrummer]

Lol playing thru a guitar amp and expecting solid bass low end. Aint gonna happen.

refer to the 12th post in this thread.

 

[Miguel001]

I really think that the tone of the neck pickup is good enough. And it has more than enough lowend.

Problem is E string being a bit weaker.

I m quite sure that there is some mod to overcome this. I will experiment and if I succed, will let you know

Cheers

Miguel
(spain)