I have a Geddy Lee bass.It sounds great but doesn't seem to have the output of my other basses.I was wondering if raised the neck pickup level with the bridge pickup, would it give me more volume? I don't really want to change out the pickups.Any advise?
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Question about Fender Jazz bass
- Thread starter Nino D
- Start date
Have you considered something like the EHX Nano Steel Leather Bass Expander or a Tech 21 VT Bass DI?
The EHX costs only $58.
The EHX costs only $58.
Output and volume aren't the same thing. Output goes from bass to amp; Volume from amp to ears. If you want more volume on a bass with lesser output (ie passive), there's a knob on your amp for that. ;-)
A good setup will do wonders. I just went through the process and was startled at how much difference a few tenths-of-a-milimeter makes. Here's a really, really good guide.
http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/akcndfr54jdhrei567/Ultimate_Guide_ver100.pdf
A good setup will do wonders. I just went through the process and was startled at how much difference a few tenths-of-a-milimeter makes. Here's a really, really good guide.
http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/akcndfr54jdhrei567/Ultimate_Guide_ver100.pdf
I don't have the cash for the Tech 21 either…and I have $130 in credit at a local music store.
Worse than that, I lost my Steel Leather!
For some reason the Steel Leather gets put down a lot…I think it's because some people simply don't know how to use it or expect something from it that it simply isn't made for.
Think of it as the opposite of a compressor…it all depends on how you pluck, slap or pick the strings.
Worse than that, I lost my Steel Leather!
For some reason the Steel Leather gets put down a lot…I think it's because some people simply don't know how to use it or expect something from it that it simply isn't made for.
Think of it as the opposite of a compressor…it all depends on how you pluck, slap or pick the strings.
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I've got an 01 MIM 5 that I was wondering the same thing about. Compared to a P with a Duncan SPB-1 and another P with the 62 RI's, the Jazz is a couple volume clicks quieter at least. Will have to look into trying the ol setup...Thanks for the link Remyd, now if I can find some skills 
I'm at my limit on the amp .I turn the gain up while playing my hardest note until the clip light flashes on .Then turn the master volume up just about all the way.If I turn the gain up any more the clip light will stay on. With my p bass or Thunderbird it cuts through awesome .Sometimes asked to turn down.But with the Geddy, I can't hear myself as good .
I tried out a Geddy Lee at Guitar Center on Saturday right after trying a Sterling SUB Ray. The amp was on 3…the Sterling really impressed me, but I had to turn the volume up to 5 and still the Fender sounded muffled.
I had a geddy and the output was on the lower side compared to other basses. Not being snarky, but, turn up the amp or get something like an Audere preamp that you can install into the bass that will crank up the output.
Sounds like a louder amp is in order.
If the gain is set properly for the P or T-bird, and the Geddy has less output, then you must be able to turn up the gain for the Geddy a little bit without changing the amount of clipping. Bass output plus gain equals input level as far as the clipping light is concerned. Subtract from one and you can add to the other to arrive at the same place.
The gain does end up set higher with the Geddy but still doesn't get the volume of the other basses .The set up does crank pretty good .But the band has two guitarists with Mesa 4 12s and a hard hitting drummer.I do have a Streamliner 900 .I want an Uber 410 for it.But for now I use an SWR bass 350 with an Uber 212.
I suggest you get one then because even a small amount of compression can make a worlds difference to the audibility of such low frequencies plus, every compressor has a makeup gain knob, enabling you to boost your signal before it hits the amplifier.
The MXR Bass Compressor is a rather neutral unit with a lot of knobs to fiddle around.
The EBS MultiComp is a TubeSim/MultiBand/Standard Compressor with only a few but well thought through options. (My favorite!)
Generally speaking bass needs to win the surface area war. Right now you are losing by a ratio of 4:1. It sounds like your plans are moving in the right direction.
as folks have said , ... you Can raise the pups a bit to find their sweet spot ... but you could also Lower the pups a little on your other basses to try to help balance all of their volumes out ... those experiments are Free ... !! just maybe try to keep track of where all the pups where before you start adjusting ... ! so you have some kind of reference point ...
Chef
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Hey, thanks for that.
I've been doing my own setups for decades, and this had some stuff I didn't do.
Op, I had the same problem as yours. While the Tech 21 will definitely boost your signal and make it easier for you to hear, not everyone can afford it, like you.
I have a Geddy bass too and after tweaking the pickup height, string action, truss rod, and other stuff for HOURS, I finally got the sweet spot. My GL is loud and cuts through well even on a low volume...then again..I have a Rumble v3 40 which packs quite a punch even at the "2" setting on the master.
EDIT: Sometime I find my bass to be TOO loud so I adjust the pickups accordingly. I don't touch the truss rod anymore; PITA to deal with
I have a Geddy bass too and after tweaking the pickup height, string action, truss rod, and other stuff for HOURS, I finally got the sweet spot. My GL is loud and cuts through well even on a low volume...then again..I have a Rumble v3 40 which packs quite a punch even at the "2" setting on the master.
EDIT: Sometime I find my bass to be TOO loud so I adjust the pickups accordingly. I don't touch the truss rod anymore; PITA to deal with
