NBD: New(ish) member with questions

[FitzFitz]

Hey all. I've been lurking on these forums for a few months but haven't posted at all. Just partially bought myself a new bass for christmas: A Fender MIM Standard in arctic white. Started playing a little over a year ago on a friend's Lyon bass, then got my own ESP LTD B-55 for christmas. I knew nothing about basses and pretty much got it because it was pretty (although I'm not really a fan of the headstock, but I don't think I even thought to look at it before ordering) Still a nice bass and it won't be going anywhere. Holds a place in my heart. (Side note: Despite my profile info, I'm 17, not 24 or whatever it says) I've got some questions about improving my new bass. I just put some new flatfounds because Im kinda looking for a nice warm, mellow woody sound, closer to a standup bass. (At least I think thats what people mean by "warm and woody") I'm looking at getting some new pickups, and right now I'm focused on Seymour Duncan spb-1. Would those deliver the sound I'm lookinf for? Its a little difficult to tell through youtube videos. And another thing with my strings I put on. I've never put strings on myself before, and I may have goofed. It sounds fine, but the A string rattles when played open. I'd say just raise the action, but when I put the strings on, they're pretty high up on the machine on the E and A strings. (Not the D and G thanks to the string tee) So those two strings are basically completely straight from the bridge to the tuners. I tried restringing them but they just keep sliding up as I tighten them. How can I avoid this? I have a lot more questions, but they can wait until a later time. Happy to be a part of the forum. Thanks for the help.

(Pics to come later)

 

[jd56hawk]

When you get the chance post a closeup pic of the headstock.
I'll let someone else answer the Duncan pickup question.
One thing though, you might want to experiment with different types of foam under the strings by the bridge to help get the sound you want.

 

[FitzFitz]

Yea I've been thinking about doing that. I'll have to see what we have around, because I looked up some "higher tech" bridge mutes but they were around 100$.

 

[jd56hawk]

I tried three or four different types.
Some people use a/c window insulation, a regular sponge, etc. You might be surprised what you find around the house.
Fender makes them, too...$10 or less and there's a nice one I found on ebay called The Mufler for $12.50.

 

[wild4oldcars]

Regarding the string problem, you may need new strings. It sounds like you cut the current ones too short. You want to have a few wraps around the tuner post to push the string down onto the nut, if that makes sense.

 

[FitzFitz]

I apologize for the photo quality. It was taken on my ipod because I just wanted to get one uploaded quick. I forgot to mention that the A and not so much but still the E string slide out of the nut pretty easily. Not while I'm playing though

 

[wild4oldcars]

Your wraps are going up the post. You want them to go down successively.

 

[FitzFitz]

I tried to make sure each string was the distance of 2 machine heads from the one I was attaching it to. They're each wound around 3 times, except the D string, which is wrapped around 4 times.

 

[FitzFitz]

Oh geez, I might've misunderstood the video I was watching. I could have sworn the guy doing the tutorial said to have them wrap upwards.

 

[wild4oldcars]

You should be able to salvage those strings though, so that's good news

 

[FitzFitz]

Thanks, but is there a chance I might not be able to?

 

[jd56hawk]

I never put strings on until recently. I found plenty of online sites showing how to do it...some with pics.
Another important thing with flatwounds is...bend then cut, not cut and bend.

 

[FitzFitz]

Good to know jd56hawk, thanks. Restringing them right now, thanks again wild4oldcars. Anybody know anything about those pickups?

 

[FitzFitz]

Oops, gotta go pick up the missus from work. I'll be back.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Before you spend money on the pup, try messing around with some foam. I use a/c insulation foam, and cut different sizes until I found the right amount of deadening.

 

[friendlybass]

Oops, gotta go pick up the missus from work. I'll be back.

17 and you're married?
That winding the strings top of the post down is important, the string "break" at the nut is a big part of your intonation!
Check out the Kent Armstrong pickups, this dude has been hand winding pups since he was a kid and his dad was Dan Armstrong, the man behind many great pups. Also if you're looking to drop some dough Curtis Novak is a killer pickup builder as well. You can also hop on eBay and try your hand at winning some legitimate 60's-70's vintage ones.
You can do some fun stuff too, take it to get it set up, send it out to get it PLEK'd, buy new pickguards, change the tone capacitor value, buy a new neck, get a racing stripe painted on it, sand the back of the neck for comfort. The world is your oyster sir.

 

[SirMjac28]

I tried three or four different types.
Some people use a/c window insulation, a regular sponge, etc. You might be surprised what you find around the house.
Fender makes them, too...$10 or less and there's a nice one I found on ebay called The Mufler for $12.50.

This is what I use and it works well.

 

[BazzTard]

Firstly, welcome.

did the re-string work? Coz I was worried you may have put heavier guage strings on, as the E string is sitting pretty high on the nut, it may just be coz of the wrong windings on the post.

I just ordered The Mufler today, now I wait for it to cross the Pacific........

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

Yes, definitely wrap your strings downwards - this will give you much better tension.

As well as the other excellent suggestions here, have a think about where your plucking hand is actually playing. You can get an excellent Double Bass sound from playing more over the end of the fingerboard where there is much less string tension. I'll try and attach a pic showing how i wind the strings from top to bottom of the peg

...

 

[Need Gigs]

Yea I've been thinking about doing that. I'll have to see what we have around, because I looked up some "higher tech" bridge mutes but they were around 100$.

You probably don't need to spend that kind of money. I've gotten good results using socks, underpants and foam from an old mattress