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Question about Fender PJ (active)

M

mborn

Gold Supporting Member
Jul 28, 2016
113
165
Ohio
#1
I traded recently for an American Deluxe PJ, 4 string bass. It seems to work normally: however, the output is low compared to my other basses.

With volume at max, all EQ knobs in detent and new batteries, (both at 9.6 volts each) the output is 10 to 15 DBs lower than my other two active basses set up the same way. All tone controls work, active passive switch works, plays and sounds fine. Passive level is also low.

Is low output normal for a Fender active bass as compared to other active basses? This is my first Fender so I have no reference.


Other basses: Fodera 5 string Emperor and Dingwall Combustion 5

Amp: Bergantino Forte HP set flat into a pair NXT 112. No effects.

Different cables checked.
 
#3
I have a Pro II precision and an Ultra precision. Active withe eq zeroed-out, the Ultra is about the same output as the Pro II. Passive, it is much quieter. Caveat: they have different strings. I will be putting the same strings on them in the next week, which will allow me to do a better comparison. I don't have any other active basses to compare it to, but I do have passive basses with higher output pickups than both the Pro II and the zeroed-out Ultra.
 
#5
mborn said:
I traded recently for an American Deluxe PJ, 4 string bass. It seems to work normally: however, the output is low compared to my other basses.
Click to expand...
i don't have experience with your ax, however, i do have two active instruments at present: they are both "louder" than my passives, but one of them (it's a PJ with audere preamp + active EMG pickups) is decidedly louder than the other.

i wouldn't expect all active axes to be equal in the "loudness"/output department. my passives are different from each other in that regard, too.

i use the amp controls to level the playing field among all of them.
 
#7
Thank you all for the information and your time. Since the passive signal level is also lower, I suspect a string or string height problem. The possibility of both pickups being bad is slim. And the levels are the same when the pickup blend is changed.

The strings are close to the pickup pole pieces. And the strings are flats with some kind fo clear plastic coating. I think the first think to do is replace the strings and set them to some standard height to start.

Another possibility is the strings are too close the the pickups and the magnetic field is effecting the string movement. Time to try TI flats.
 

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