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p-bass problems

powellmacaque

powellmacaque

Aug 16, 2006
925
17
36
Clearwater, FL
#1
Hey guys.

I have an American Jazz Bass, and a Standard Fretless Precision (strung with Fender Tapewounds to give it a stand-up bass sound) at my house. I love the the punch the Jazz gives me, but to be honest, I like the feel, look, and simplicity of the Precision a lot more. My P-bass really rumbles on the bottom end, and before I de-fretted mine, it was really clear, and has a great tone when playing harmonics, but thats about it. I'm thinking about getting an American precision sometime soon. My question is, how can I make a Precision bass have a little more bite, a little more mid-range, without the highs being to snappy and the lows being too muddy, which is a problem I've had with all the p-basses I've played in stores. I want it to be able to sound good and tight while slapping, much like a jazz, without having to add that extra bridge pickup
 
#3
powellmacaque said:
Hey guys.

I have an American Jazz Bass, and a Standard Fretless Precision (strung with Fender Tapewounds to give it a stand-up bass sound) at my house. I love the the punch the Jazz gives me, but to be honest, I like the feel, look, and simplicity of the Precision a lot more. My P-bass really rumbles on the bottom end, and before I de-fretted mine, it was really clear, and has a great tone when playing harmonics, but thats about it. I'm thinking about getting an American precision sometime soon. My question is, how can I make a Precision bass have a little more bite, a little more mid-range, without the highs being to snappy and the lows being too muddy, which is a problem I've had with all the p-basses I've played in stores. I want it to be able to sound good and tight while slapping, much like a jazz, without having to add that extra bridge pickup
Click to expand...

Try the Basslines Quarter Pounder. I like them a lot. The strings you use will be a huge part of the sound you get. I use Thomastic flatwounds with my P with Quarter Pounder. But flatwounds may not be the sound for you. You won't get the currently popular slap sounds from them. The Thomastic strings though, are much different than any other flatwounds, so don't bass your opinion of them on what you've heard from other flatwounds.
 
#7
62bass said:
Try the Basslines Quarter Pounder. I like them a lot. The strings you use will be a huge part of the sound you get. I use Thomastic flatwounds with my P with Quarter Pounder. But flatwounds may not be the sound for you. You won't get the currently popular slap sounds from them. The Thomastic strings though, are much different than any other flatwounds, so don't bass your opinion of them on what you've heard from other flatwounds.
Click to expand...

I'll second the QP rec. I like the combination of that pickup and D'Addario Half Rounds. Nice and deep, not overly bright.
 
#8
if more mids is what you want don't ever try the quarter pounder they are the most mid-less pick up I had in a p-bass.
I had the stock usa, the hot for p-bass, the quarter pounders and my quest ended when I bought the antiquity1 pickups. they are very balanced and have way more definition than the stock pick-ups.

As for the QP's, they do get definition, but it's from there very boosted high end. It can sound harsh and the lack of mids make it more though to cut through without some extreme eqing in the mids.
 
#9
JustOpenYourMind said:
if more mids is what you want don't ever try the quarter pounder they are the most mid-less pick up I had in a p-bass.
I had the stock usa, the hot for p-bass, the quarter pounders and my quest ended when I bought the antiquity1 pickups. they are very balanced and have way more definition than the stock pick-ups.

As for the QP's, they do get definition, but it's from there very boosted high end. It can sound harsh and the lack of mids make it more though to cut through without some extreme eqing in the mids.
Click to expand...

I think you posted about this once before. I disagreed with you then and still do. I have my Fender P with QP and TI flats ( strings are 6 years old) here right now. Plugged in to either a Walkabout Scout with tone controls flat or Yorkville XM50C with bass boosted a bit, there is no lack of mids. I've recorded many times with this bass. Direct into the board there is no lack of mids or harshness or boosted high end.

I don't doubt your Antiquities are excellent pickups. I've heard them and like them very much. I just don't understand how your ears and mine are so different.
 

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