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p bass pickup height configuration

weston417

weston417

Jun 19, 2009
98
2
#1
ive got an old first act discovery with p bass pickups. ive noticed some p bass pickups are adjusted where there totally level. ive also noticed a few that are adjusted where the pickups are arched to where the A and D string are closer and the E and G are farther away. is the only reason to do this to increase mids? any input would be appreciated!!:help::cool:
 
#2
It's done in order to try and keep the pickup-to-string distance equal from one string to the next. Because of the curve of the fingerboard, and the string heights being adjusted to match that curve, if you don't tilt the pickup it will sometimes cause the A and D strings to be quieter than the E and G strings.
 
#5
Guys:
I notice a significant volume difference from my G string versus E A D strings. G string is approximately 50% less in volume than E A D strings.
I adjusted the Pickups closer to the G string, which didn't help significantly - thoughts?
 
#6
njbass said:
Guys:
I notice a significant volume difference from my G string versus E A D strings. G string is approximately 50% less in volume than E A D strings.
I adjusted the Pickups closer to the G string, which didn't help significantly - thoughts?
Click to expand...

Did you try lowering the E A D portions of the pickup in conjunction with raising the G?

You may also be able to adjust the saddles to help even things out but obviously that will change the action.
 
#10
so the ole "close but not too close" approach eh? thanks for all the help guys. just got new hi-beams, put a badass bridge on and set the pickup height and it sounds AWESOME!! would schaller tuners and a graphite nut be a good "icing on the cake"?
 
#11
weston417 said:
so the ole "close but not too close" approach eh? thanks for all the help guys. just got new hi-beams, put a badass bridge on and set the pickup height and it sounds AWESOME!! would schaller tuners and a graphite nut be a good "icing on the cake"?
Click to expand...


If it stays in tune at the moment and the tuners turn smoothly now - then new Tuners ain't going to make any difference.

As to a Graphite nut - try rubbing a soft pencil in the slots to get the same effect!!
 
#13
Try a squirt of WD40 on the gears, and the pencil graphite in the nut slots - it'll help, trust me. If they still turn like they got rocks in the gears then think about changing them.

If your Bass is "always flat" - I assume that you mean you tune it to pitch and then it goes flat while you're playing it, make sure you start flat and tune up to pitch, not down. The chances of the machines slipping are zero or less, also there are numerous threads here on on how to change the strings on a Bass - make sure you put the strings on correctly.
 
#15
dmusic148 said:
It's done in order to try and keep the pickup-to-string distance equal from one string to the next. Because of the curve of the fingerboard, and the string heights being adjusted to match that curve, if you don't tilt the pickup it will sometimes cause the A and D strings to be quieter than the E and G strings.
Click to expand...

christ i never thought of that, that would explain why my E and A are louder than my D and G strings on my newly acquired Ibanez. guess i got some adjustments to do tonight.
 
#17
line6man said:
I'm very curious where you were getting that idea?:confused:
Raising the pole pieces for the A and D strings would only change the response from those strings while the E and G strings would be remain unaffected.
Why would someone want to have more/less mids on only two strings?
Click to expand...
[/I]

it was just an idea... i didnt know for sure. the E string is the low the A and the D strings are the mids and the g is the high
 

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