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Pickups Too Loud

Tedward

Tedward

Feb 15, 2006
659
159
southern california
#1
I have a set of Alumitone 3.5's in one of my basses and they are very loud. I really like the way they sound tone wise and don't want to change them out for a quieter set. I alternate between two basses when we play and I'm frustrated with having to change the volume every time I switch basses. Is there a way I can pad down the pickups in the control cavity with a trim pot? Thought about using a pedal but I don't want more things on the floor. I also thought about putting a preamp in the bass that has a gain control but I'm not ready to start drilling more holes
in the top. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Tedward
 
#4
I have been turning the guitar down but that is what I want to get away from. A lot of times the bass goes through the PA system and I will see the engineer having to readjust the level.

The pickups are as low as they can go with out routing deeper pockets.

Tedward
 
#6
Tedward said:
I have been turning the guitar down but that is what I want to get away from. A lot of times the bass goes through the PA system and I will see the engineer having to readjust the level.

The pickups are as low as they can go with out routing deeper pockets.

Tedward
Click to expand...
You want to get away from turning the guitar down? Like always have the volume to 10?
 
#7
Tedward said:
I have been turning the guitar down but that is what I want to get away from. A lot of times the bass goes through the PA system and I will see the engineer having to readjust the level.

The pickups are as low as they can go with out routing deeper pockets.

Tedward
Click to expand...

Unless the engineer is requesting you try to turn down and if your not running into an amp that is clipping then this seems like a non issue. Mixing boards are meant for adjusting gain levels. Worst case is they have to pad the gain. If it sounds good, let the engineer adjust. It’s what they are supposed to do, adjust for low and high levels being sent to the board.
 
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#11
Tedward said:
I have a set of Alumitone 3.5's in one of my basses and they are very loud. I really like the way they sound tone wise and don't want to change them out for a quieter set. I alternate between two basses when we play and I'm frustrated with having to change the volume every time I switch basses. Is there a way I can pad down the pickups in the control cavity with a trim pot? Thought about using a pedal but I don't want more things on the floor. I also thought about putting a preamp in the bass that has a gain control but I'm not ready to start drilling more holes
in the top. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Tedward
Click to expand...
You could lower the pick ups. I always do that, cause I play decently hard, and it helps me get a cleaner signal.
 
#12
Tedward said:
I have been turning the guitar down but that is what I want to get away from.
Click to expand...
wye tho? I think that, somehow, seeking out a 36 fret neck so that you can have only B, E, and A strings but close enough full fiver range would be a less odd search for adding something so as to remove something else. It's okay though, I've been trying for years to get my bike shop to willingly build me a rear wheel for my road bike around a stupid expensive and not-durable downhill mtb hub because I want only five gears in back and less spoke dish.

I'm sure any tech would be happy to take $30 from you to solder in a loose pre-volume-pot volume pot or take $80 to fab up a lil right angle bracket and properly mount and ground your PVPVP.
 
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#13
Tedward said:
I have been turning the guitar down but that is what I want to get away from. A lot of times the bass goes through the PA system and I will see the engineer having to readjust the level.

The pickups are as low as they can go with out routing deeper pockets.

Tedward
Click to expand...

Weird that the engineer didn't just use the input pad on his board. Especially weird for that to happen from a passive bass. Is it always the same sound guy this happens with? Does it overdrive your amp in other situations?
 
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#17
nilorius said:
You should lower the pickup height or/and check the volume knob position.
Click to expand...
OP already said the pickups are as low as they can go. Seems the issue is with one set of pickups having a higher output even when lowered in the cavity.
Again, the Boss LS2 or similar pedal should be the easiest fix, and most convenient when swapping basses through a set.
 
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#19
Adjust the pickup height(s).

Just make sure that the adjustments you make give you an even string balance across all of the strings (and remember to take your screwdriver with you for the next band rehearsal session!).
 

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