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P-Bass too bassy. Strings or pickups?

H

HolyGrowl

Jan 28, 2008
99
0
#1
Hi there,

Just got a custom P-Bass I had myself build from a luthier. Tried it for the first time at a soundcheck tonight and had to turn the bass down completely on my Micro-VR to have a decent sound that has punch without being boomy.

Now I requested the bass to be a replica of a 62', but since Fender does not manufacture the '62 reissue pups, the guy at Fender suggested the Seymour Duncan SPB-1. I also put some LaBella original 1954 flatwounds on it.

Now should I try lowering the pup height, switch strings or change the pups altogether?

Thanks!
 
#3
#4
Are you setting the pickup height to match the radius of the fretboard? The pickup should be at it highest in the middle and at it lowest under the E & G strings....kind of like this /\, but not so exaggerated. It should probably be lower under the E string than any other string.

Also, +1 on these pickups: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Original-62-P-Bass-Pickup?sku=301602. I have this pickup in my MIM P-bass loaded with EB flats and it sounds fantastic. Don't have any personal experience with the Duncan pickup, but it should be a quality pickup with good tone also.
 
#5
thisSNsucks said:
You sure they dont make the 62 reissue pickups?

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Original-62-P-Bass-Pickup?sku=301602

I'd say mess around with lowering the pickup a bit first. If that doesn't do the trick, maybe some brighter flats. I love TI's, they're expensive but well worth it IMO.

EDIT: 5string5fingers beat me to it!
Click to expand...

They indeed are available through online stores but my luthier, who is an authorized Fender parts seller told me the guy he contacted at Fender told him they didn't make them anymore and to put some SPB-1. At this point I don't care if he was right or not but i'll try lowering the height, if not i'll order some 62 originals.

Now has anyone had the opportunity to compare the SPB-1's and the '62 reissue's in their P-Bass?
 
#6
I say there's probably nothing wrong. You've only had it out once- who's to say the trouble wasn't room acoustics? Just play the thing for awhile. P basses aren't known for being 'too bassy.' If anything folks complain they're 'too middy.' Give it a chance.
 
#8
#12
Strings. I love flats but would never bring a flat strung bass to a club or venue as my only axe. Flats tend to reduce bass to bass to be perfectly awful in my language usage (its 4 am and im on baby duty).

Theres a reason rounds became a revolution in the 60s when rotosound "invented" them-they bring to the bass a whole spectrum of sounds and overtones not really available in a traditional flatwound string.

Also, try a lighter set of flats-traditional Fender flats are heavy as !@#$ !. I'd say .040, .060, .080, .100- I think Sadowsky makes a wind like that in flats.
Cheers!
Nukes
 
#13
I would try adjusting the pickups first but going to roundwounds might do the trick. My p bass is strung with flats and I do have this same issue when I play fingerstyle. When using a pick it sounds really good though. So I'm currently using a Jazz with rounds and the P with flats. Now I know why I need two more basses though! Jazz with rounds, P with flats, and another P with rounds and then a 5'er!
 
#14
I like the D'Addario chromes (flats) 105-50. They're a bit stiffer than most but that means you can lower the action more & still dig. They are also quite bright when new. I love them for recording because they have a strong fundamental & cut through in a mix well. You can usually get them at a reasonable price so it makes it easier to take em' off if ya don't approve. I set the A @ 3/32" over 12th F. - up a 64th on the E - down a 64th on D & @ 2/32" on G. Set pup ht accordingly. If you can't get a GREAT flatwound sound out of your P.- listen to another good player playing it to see where the problem is.

EDIT: My action ht sets are w/ OPEN strings.
 
#15
That "boomy" sound usually sits around 100Hz...if you had a bass graphic EQ you could pull that frequency back a bit and get rid of the mud while maintaining the low-end.

Try it. It works a treat.

I've had to do something similar using the Graphic EQ on my Carvin amp to clean up the low end of my basses (they all do it, the cab has a bit of a peak around 100Hz that causes this for me).
 
#16
I can't see flatwounds been the culprit, there's plenty of very muted mid heavy flat tones out of there, this tone for example isn't exactly gonna be rumbling any floors

Like Pilbara said a little specific EQing would sort you out, your being pretty hasty wanting to change your setup after one boomy sounding gig, boom can come from the room as much as it can from your bass or amp.
 
#19
Turn up the mids on your amp. If you have a graphic eq try reducing the 250-300 range slider.

Also check the wiring. Sloppy wiring and or sloppy soldering can make the bass lose treble and mids. A short in the wrong place can bleed treble off to ground. I had this happen recently on one of my frankensteined basses.
 

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