Squier Project, PART II

[Buszkock]

O.K., so after successfully straightening out and setting up a Fender Squier P bass with flats strung BEAD, I'm not ready to move along to the second phase of the project.

Part I w/ some pics at the beginning of the project here Squire Project

Even with some new strings the bass sounds "tinny" and weak. Just no "umph" or low end in the sound to write home about. I play and record mostly rock, blues, heavy music and would like to take suggestions on new pickups for this bass.

I'm not opposed to adding actives here either, additional tone pots / controls. I'm not afraid to mod the pickguard, drill holes or anything else required that might add to the complexity. The bass was found and is strictly for projects and experimentation, so I'm really open to many ideas.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[shoulderpet]

O.K., so after successfully straightening out and setting up a Fender Squier P bass with flats strung BEAD, I'm not ready to move along to the second phase of the project.

Part I w/ some pics at the beginning of the project here Squire Project

Even with some new strings the bass sounds "tinny" and weak. Just no "umph" or low end in the sound to write home about. I play and record mostly rock, blues, heavy music and would like to take suggestions on new pickups for this bass.

I'm not opposed to adding actives here either, additional tone pots / controls. I'm not afraid to mod the pickguard, drill holes or anything else required that might add to the complexity. The bass was found and is strictly for projects and experimentation, so I'm really open to many ideas.

Thanks,
Mike

If you have not done so already then check the value of the pots , if they are 500k then swapping to 250k will roll off some of the treble. Different pickups may help with bass response but may affect other frequencies as well for example dimarzio model p or will power pickups will give a boost in the lows but will also boost the mids, Seymour duncan Quarter pound pickups will boost the lows but they also have boosted treble and upper mids.
Also you say the bass sounds tinny and weak, does it also sound this way when you listen to it unplugged or is it just when plugged in?

 

[Buszkock]

Does it also sound this way when you listen to it unplugged or is it just when plugged in?

Good question. My impression is that it sounds this way while plugged in, and not so much while un-electrified.

I'm in the process of breaking in some new strings as well as experimenting with pickup height before I declare the need for a new pickup set. (Been discussing this in the first thread).
If I can, I'd like to upload some samples of the bass sound, but I'm having some trouble with my DAW this week.

My feeling is that I need to get to know this bass as it is before I can honestly say what exactly needs to change in the sound.

 

[JimmyThunder]

My feeling is that I need to get to know this bass as it is before I can honestly say what exactly needs to change in the sound.

That is a very smart approach, which not enough people do

 

[shoulderpet]

Good question. My impression is that it sounds this way while plugged in, and not so much while un-electrified.

I'm in the process of breaking in some new strings as well as experimenting with pickup height before I declare the need for a new pickup set. (Been discussing this in the first thread).
If I can, I'd like to upload some samples of the bass sound, but I'm having some trouble with my DAW this week.

My feeling is that I need to get to know this bass as it is before I can honestly say what exactly needs to change in the sound.

Ok, the fact that it sounds that way when plugged in but not unamplified suggests that the pickups are probably to blame that is of course assuming that your amp is ok and is not overly bright or lacking in low end.
That being said I noticed in your other thread that you are using Labella flats which are great strings and once broken in are nice and warm but are very bright when fresh so it may be worth waiting for the strings to break in and then reassessing the tone of the bass

 

[Buszkock]

Ok, the fact that it sounds that way when plugged in but not unamplified suggests that the pickups are probably to blame that is of course assuming that your amp is ok and is not overly bright or lacking in low end.
That being said I noticed in your other thread that you are using Labella flats which are great strings and once broken in are nice and warm but are very bright when fresh so it may be worth waiting for the strings to break in and then reassessing the tone of the bass

Yeah, but it also sounded "tinny" when I had some rounds on there (fairly used ones); it just sounds rather anemic over all. I'm playing it both direct (through the a Presonus DAW) and an Ampeg combo and it sounds similar. In any case, I'm planning to do other little things to the bass like shielding the cavity while I continue to play the bass and get the feel for its particular expression.