• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Need help fattening up my sound

T

terzian

Guest
Dec 6, 2011
21
1
South Wales
#1
Hi there

At present when I play my E string the sound is nice and fat. However as I go up the string through A to G my sound gets thinner and weeker. Does anyone have any ideas or know of a pedal that could boost the signal on the thinner strings?

I have checked my bass over to make sure it is not that (I play a musicman sterling 4 string) and my amp has plenty of power Hartke 4 x 10 350 watt.

Any ideas anyone might have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Terzian
 
#3
Hi Jimbob Jones

Thanks for the advise. The Musicman has a 3 band eq on board. I normally play will all of these on full including the volume and then control the levels via the amp.

The action on the bass is set quite low across all the strings.

Thanks again

Terzian
 
#4
terzian said:
Hi Jimbob Jones

Thanks for the advise. The Musicman has a 3 band eq on board. I normally play will all of these on full including the volume and then control the levels via the amp.

The action on the bass is set quite low across all the strings.

Thanks again

Terzian
Click to expand...

Perhaps using all eq knobs on full may cause the "thin" sound you describing. Did you try eq knobs are all flat (or each knob at 50%) ?

I also recommend boost on "Low mids" around 150Hertz. And adding more mids and high mids accordingly for articulation or "cutting through" when playing live.

(Also slight compression may also help to get an even and all around fat sound.)
 
#6
This is quite the common complaint and the solutions suggested above are all valid. As I mentioned in another thread, over-EQing can suck the life out of your D & G strings. I, too, would start with all controls in their center-detent positions. This doesn't necessarily mean we're running a "flat" EQ but it does provide a point of reference while making adjustments. A slight boost in the 150-250 hz region should bring out the "body" you're missing. Personally, I like to pluck the A (D string, 7th fret) while setting the EQ balance as the resulting tone usually translates well to the remainder of the fingerboard. Can't say why it works for me but it does...maybe it has something to do the with the octave "bounce" I hear in so many pop songs (think Hall & Oates). Avoid boosting bass freq's as they all-too-often mask the sorely-needed definition provided by the mids.

Riis
 
#10
Putting all EQ sliders at max just means you are boosting ALL frequencies - just a volume boost and no EQ. There will also be some other undesirable effects. In gneral, EQ controls should never be anywhere near maximum - they are only for a slight flavor.

You may also need to adjust your pickup height as mentioned above to balance the output across all the strings. They don't have to be level!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back