• 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.

Putting my bass on steroids

#61
Stay with me... those are in ascending order, low to high, yes?
Also, any thoughts on where a .01 fits in there? I have seen that value (perhaps erroneously?) attributed to ld school P bass style.
I am new to playing with these values (and soldering for that matter), but I want to put 2 different caps into a v v t jazz bass with a switch between the 2 (and a 3rd notch for tone bypass). I am leaning toward a .047 as per a standard Fender style response, and would like a 2nd value for super dark sounding...
Technotitclan thanks for the response...

shawn
 
#62
The 1M will give you super dark. My list was from lightest to darkest. There are a bunch of whole threads here on TB about mix and matching caps and doing a setup like yours. Just search TB using different combos of tone/cap/capacitor to find them. My inspiration for testing different cabs was from one of the threads here.
 
#63
spc said:
Stay with me... those are in ascending order, low to high, yes?
Also, any thoughts on where a .01 fits in there? I have seen that value (perhaps erroneously?) attributed to ld school P bass style.
I am new to playing with these values (and soldering for that matter), but I want to put 2 different caps into a v v t jazz bass with a switch between the 2 (and a 3rd notch for tone bypass). I am leaning toward a .047 as per a standard Fender style response, and would like a 2nd value for super dark sounding...
Technotitclan thanks for the response...

shawn
Click to expand...

.01uf will not to much at all. .047uf is most useful with a bass IMHO. For your switch scenario, I would start with a .047uf and a .1uf as I consider a .1uf about as dark as you can get and still be useable.
 
#65
The most significant upgrade you can make to your bass tonally is to change Pups and Pre. String change once you find what you like is icing on the cake. A String change however can breath new life into your bass if you do not have the funds for the electronics upgrade.
 
#66
phillybass101 said:
The most significant upgrade you can make to your bass tonally is to change Pups and Pre. String change once you find what you like is icing on the cake. A String change however can breath new life into your bass if you do not have the funds for the electronics upgrade.
Click to expand...


Well, a change from flats to SS rounds will be a bigger tonal change than any pickup upgrade. But if you are talking about switching between two strings made of the same material you are absolutely right.
 
#67
OP, back on topic. As long as you bridge is stable it will make nearly no difference. The biggest difference is going to be made in strings, pickups and preamp. I would start with strings. Those are going to be the cheapest to start with. Just try a few different ones out. Spend some time reading in the strings forum about the differences in tone with the different kinds. Also email Jason from BassStringsOnline.com he is super helpful and a member here (goes by the handle SlapinFunk i think) and he also has great prices on strings.

If different strings just don't cut it then Pickups will make the biggest difference. From what I could find your bass is a P/J format. There are TONS of options for this pickup layout and they have a wide variety of tones. If your thinking about pups please give a more detailed description of what your looking for and we can help. Examples like youtube vids would really tell us what your looking for.

Preamp will make a good difference but it really depends on how you use it. The best I could say your get from them is that they will make great pups fantastic and bad pickups ok. I would go with pre as a finisher to top off a a great string and pup combo. I used the stock pre when i changed pups and it sounded pretty good. I then changed to a Bartolini preamp which sounded better but was not as big of a difference as the pickups.

A setup will make the bass play a lot better. not necessarily change its sound but make it more comfortable to play. It could sound different if your playing style changes due to it though. Even cheap basses can get pretty good action. Its just a matter of how well its set up. Its not hard to do but does require a little practice to learn to really dial in an absolutly perfect setup.[/QUOTE]

OP: you have learned that people like to argue on TB. But the above advice is the calm rational way to improve your bass tone (or decide if you need a need a new bass-- for minimal dough).

happy gassing,
fnord!
 
  • Like
Reactions: madjazzbass
#68
ctmullins said:
Very subjective topic. Lots of (sometimes conflicting) opinions in the Strings forum. I'm no expert, but DR Hi-Beams or Lo-Riders would be a good starting point IMHO.
Click to expand...
I personaly would start "cheaper" and work my way up ; start with like? GHS or Fender (my choice) I'm going through sort of the same "ordeal" with strings right now, NEVER purchase a set of strings just because someone else says they're great! I' ve made that mistake a few times too many, thats why I say st;art with a lower price string, that does'nt mean the strings won't sound good; That all depends on your Bass and the type of wood it's made from, how dense the wood is or is'nt , and there's other factors as well, but I think those are the most important
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back