• 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.

PROBLEM: High end drops out of mix

G

goodtimes

Guest
Jul 5, 2012
6
0
#1
Hi! New member here from St. Louis, MO. Hope I'm posting this in the right section.

I Need some feedback.. I've got a problem with my high end dropping out of the mix. We are talking the top end of the G-string here. Tried cranking the treble mix on the amp all the way to no avail.

My gear: Fender Pbass with Bartolini pups with coated Elixir strings (medium).

I know it's not an issue with the amp because I tried my buddies Jbass on the same song with the same levels, and the high end held tight. Any suggestions? Get a new guitar, etc. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
 
#2
Man, I had the same issue with an Old MIM P-Bass, which i replaced the neck on (and probably screwed it up). It just sounded dead and thin no matter what.
The bass was there but mids and highs were gone, so it was very dull un-punchy sound. Ended up selling it to some dude for parts :(.

Maybe try new set of strings (steels)? How does it sound on its own comparing to your friend's bass?
 
#4
Does it seem to drop out when playing without other instruments, or just playing with the band?

Sometimes when ya get into the frequencies other instruments are occupying, you won’t hear yourself distinctly enough.

Just a thought.


Without knowing what you’re playing… maybe you can play those parts in a lower octave?
 
#5
Marko5657 said:
Without knowing what you’re playing… maybe you can play those parts in a lower octave?
Click to expand...

Thanks for that um "solution"... I could of thought of that! ;-)

How does it sound on its own comparing to your friend's bass?
Click to expand...
Hard to tell as the Pbass and Jbass are like apples and oranges

This happens with new strings and old strings (steel)... It's definitely a volume issue. Hooked it up to my practice app on the iphone (peavey ampkit) and saw that the input levels are one bar lower when up top when played at the same volume. So I'll try lifting the pickup a bit.
 
#6
if its too thin then you need more high mids, adding alot of highs will make it have tons of finger noise, but a little bit should make it cut through the mix a bit.

If you are doing a lot of boosting with your eq, then I would say start from scratch and do more cutting than boosting. Cutting will make your sound stay natural. Lower the bass, and then you can crank the amp more and get more of your sound without adding a lot of finger noise, or muddiness.

Heres a good thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/i-have-seen-amp-eq-light-finally-give-me-mids-baby-848533/
 
#8
Marko5657 said:
:D But to my other question… does it drop out when playing alone, or just with the other instruments also playing.

Again, going into their sonic space, you might just be getting cancelled out.



(Still wundrin’ what you’re playing way up there)

Yes it's hard to tell when I'm playing alone, but I'm getting drowned out in that frequency. No doubt some of it is due to frequency competition but it's definitely a volume issue as well. In particular I'm going up there for a Chuck Rainey lick at the end of the solo in Kid Charlemagne, and during the solo of Bad Finger's "Baby Blue"



:hiding:
Click to expand...

iplaymetal said:
if its too thin then you need more high mids, adding alot of highs will make it have tons of finger noise, but a little bit should make it cut through the mix a bit.

If you are doing a lot of boosting with your eq, then I would say start from scratch and do more cutting than boosting. Cutting will make your sound stay natural. Lower the bass, and then you can crank the amp more and get more of your sound without adding a lot of finger noise, or muddiness.

Heres a good thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/i-have-seen-amp-eq-light-finally-give-me-mids-baby-848533/
Click to expand...

thanks! I'll mess with that...
 
#9
Marko5657 said:
:D But to my other question… does it drop out when playing alone, or just with the other instruments also playing.

Again, going into their sonic space, you might just be getting cancelled out.



(Still wundrin’ what you’re playing way up there)

:hiding:
Click to expand...

Yes it's hard to tell when I'm playing alone, but I'm getting drowned out in that frequency. No doubt some of it is due to frequency competition but it's definitely a volume issue as well. In particular I'm going up there for a Chuck Rainey lick at the end of the solo in Kid Charlemagne, and during the solo of Free's "All Right Now"
iplaymetal said:
if its too thin then you need more high mids, adding alot of highs will make it have tons of finger noise, but a little bit should make it cut through the mix a bit.

If you are doing a lot of boosting with your eq, then I would say start from scratch and do more cutting than boosting. Cutting will make your sound stay natural. Lower the bass, and then you can crank the amp more and get more of your sound without adding a lot of finger noise, or muddiness.

Heres a good thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/i-have-seen-amp-eq-light-finally-give-me-mids-baby-848533/
Click to expand...

thanks! I'll mess with that...
 
#10
Promising news. I did raise the G side of the pickup about a half turn until the levels on the highest notes seemed equal to the lowest. Seems to pop much more when I'm jamming along with a recording. Band rehearsal will be the real test though. It really irks me that when I had these pups unstalled at a supposedly reputable shop, they wouldn't have fine tuned the pups adequately.:spit:
 
#12
goodtimes said:
Promising news. I did raise the G side of the pickup about a half turn until the levels on the highest notes seemed equal to the lowest. Seems to pop much more when I'm jamming along with a recording. Band rehearsal will be the real test though. It really irks me that when I had these pups unstalled at a supposedly reputable shop, they wouldn't have fine tuned the pups adequately.:spit:
Click to expand...
Actually, I doubt it'll make a difference. I have a ton of problems with that as well because I play a lot of oldies where the bass is usually in a higher range than most of later years. Part of it is inherent in the strings...you'll see a lot of bass players will play up higher on the neck for higher notes rather than the lower notes on the G string for that reason.

I find it exaggerated using solid state gear, too. Don't know why, but I plug into a solid state amp or DI and the high notes sound like a banjo. I switched back to tube amps and I use an A Designs REDDI for a DI now, and my problems with thin sounding high notes are over. Might not be the solution for everyone, but it certainly solved my problems.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back