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Switched to series last night at practice!
- Thread starter wyleeboxer
- Start date
Well...since you asked....
I personally think its "the cheese"!
It is to me the perfect passive solution to getting the clarity of a single coil mated with the girth of a humbucker. Normal series setting for side-by-side humbuckers (especially on the G&Ls) tends to accentuate the midrange a little too much for me while rolling off the high end- the result being a really "honky" and dull kind of tone. By cutting the treble from one coil, there is none of that treble harmonic cancellation from the 2 coils sharing similar frequencies, but there is still a touch of that accentuated midrange that keeps it growly- so you get the whole package- clear highs, growly mids and deep lows (at least to my ears!).
This makes great sense! Of course the harmonic cancellation doesnt apply when Im using just the bridge pup in series right? In series mode and both pups "on" the sound to me gets too dull and muddy... for now the bridge/pup= series= rolling off the bass about 20% seems to be the ticket for finger funk highs while retaining the girth of the bass low end!
I personally think its "the cheese"!
It is to me the perfect passive solution to getting the clarity of a single coil mated with the girth of a humbucker. Normal series setting for side-by-side humbuckers (especially on the G&Ls) tends to accentuate the midrange a little too much for me while rolling off the high end- the result being a really "honky" and dull kind of tone. By cutting the treble from one coil, there is none of that treble harmonic cancellation from the 2 coils sharing similar frequencies, but there is still a touch of that accentuated midrange that keeps it growly- so you get the whole package- clear highs, growly mids and deep lows (at least to my ears!).
This makes great sense! Of course the harmonic cancellation doesnt apply when Im using just the bridge pup in series right? In series mode and both pups "on" the sound to me gets too dull and muddy... for now the bridge/pup= series= rolling off the bass about 20% seems to be the ticket for finger funk highs while retaining the girth of the bass low end!
It DOES apply with just one pickup- as the 2 coils are reverse-wound, reverse-polarity from each other to cancel out hum. Really what this relationship is doing is cancelling out any shared signal- be it hum/electrical noise, or musical information. And high end harmonics are the most noticeable of the musical info to be lost. This is why it is hard to really get an accurate Jazz bass tone with a stock L2000 to my ears- humbucker pickups are just missing that treble bite that IMO give single coil Jazz pickups their character (as the pickup placement is more or less similar). Then again, thats not necessarily a bad thing! You also won't get any L2000 tones out of a Jazz bass- at least none that I've ever tried!
In my opinion, the "single coil with bass boost" version of the series setting found on earlier L2000s/L1000s really is the best of both worlds tone-wise. The downside is that it is no longer humbucking...
Karl
I agree that it is a little drastic, but for me personally, experimentation with sound is second only to the actual act of playing music!
Karl
Ahh.. Im not getting the highs that for sure, but also not missing the harmonics and getting the "honky dull" tone either? I was experimenting today with my amp and the sound of series/bridge/bass cut is really tight with all the nice overtones you get from lets say if you had both "typical jazz" pups on full with a J bass. I always had a problem with rolling off the neck pup, cut through better but sounded dull for sure.
I'm definitely not the most articulate describer of tone, I know! I think we are essentially describing the same thing though. By dull, I mean "rolled off"- which is to say that the heavy harmonic content seems to start in the midrange rather than the high end. I agree that the sound is similar"ish" to both pickups full-on with a Jazz bass- which to me is kinda dull sounding. The G&L series setting seems to be a lot more mid-heavy to me- which is a general characteristic of a series connection vs. a parallel (like the 2 coils/pickups on a Jazz bass). Basically, the tones I prefer on a J-bass are either pickup soloed, and those are the tones I don't feel like the L2000 really does without some experimentation or modification...
I'll also add that my L2000 is an early model ('82), and from my experience, the pickups in the older ones seem to be a little less lively/ more vintage sounding than the newer guys...
Karl
I'll also add that my L2000 is an early model ('82), and from my experience, the pickups in the older ones seem to be a little less lively/ more vintage sounding than the newer guys...
Karl
Yeah I cant quite get the same tone out of my newer tribute like I can my mid 90' L2000, different woods or slightley different electronics maybe.
Anyway, I am going crazy with this new setting! Last night with the band my tone was just incredible, and probably the best overall sound Ive had in years or maybe ever!!!
Anyway, I am going crazy with this new setting! Last night with the band my tone was just incredible, and probably the best overall sound Ive had in years or maybe ever!!!
Wyleeboxer, What is your final settings on your bass. I have an L2000 and cannot quite get the sound I want. I know that in different buildings, the sound will be different. But over all I am just not there yet.
I play thru a Fender Bassman 150. I know it is small but I line out thru the pa system. I just don't have the balls that I want and the D & G strings are not as loud. Anyone out there using a Bassman 150?
Tramp
I play thru a Fender Bassman 150. I know it is small but I line out thru the pa system. I just don't have the balls that I want and the D & G strings are not as loud. Anyone out there using a Bassman 150?Tramp
Wyleeboxer, What is your final settings on your bass. I have an L2000 and cannot quite get the sound I want. I know that in different buildings, the sound will be different. But over all I am just not there yet.
Tramp
My setting is Bridge pup only, passive, series, and the key is to roll off the bass knob until the highs start to come up or sound more balanced with the lows. I roll off the bass about 20% or so.. volume and tone are on full, but make sure your not clipping your pre-amp on your amp. I also have my amp (Nemesis RS115) combo bass freq. flat and slight boost on the mids and more boost on the highs too help bring the D & G strings come back to life. This a real full bodied sound with all the nice upper harmonics ringing out, but also I get the real real tight low bass cutting through and not mudding up the sound!
Thanks man. Do you roll off you treble or leave it full. I find that when I have a lot of treble on my bass, I get the clicking sound when my strings hit the frets. The only way I can stop that is to turn the treble nob all the way to the bass end on it.
Tramp
Tramp
Chef
In Memoriam
You might be able to improve that a little by changing right hand attack on the strings, raising action just a little, or adding a touch of relief as well...
I kinda always have that problem, and end up running my action a little higher than some guys because of that.
I kinda always have that problem, and end up running my action a little higher than some guys because of that.
Yes, set up is key for the right tone as well, I also play over the bridge pup to give the notes more articulation.. try to lower the amp treble to get closer to the sound your looking for and then stand a good 20 feet out in front and adjust the onboard bass & treble knobs to taste? That works for me..
I readjusted everything and I am using both pickups, series, passive. I rolled off the bass nob 20% and the treble 30%. On my amp I had compression all the way - backed off 25%, Contour all the way up. Treble on amp - I put is more on the bass side and the bass nob, I put it about 2 notches right of flat. It seems to be ok. Will have to test these setting in an on stage enviroment.
Tramp
Tramp
I would watch the contour knob, that may scoop any punch you may need right out of the mix.. your already scooped with both pups and series on. Remember my setting is for bridge pup only and when I stand out in the audience I have tonsss of low end still projecting into the room, but keeping the sound still balanced and tight. Try running everthing on your amp flat and also try the parrallel mode when running both pups, may take away the woofffff and get back your D & G stings tone?? Just some suggestions... not sure what sound your going for either? Mine is fingerstyle funk without the honk
Chef
In Memoriam
One man's opinion
Usually we agree; here we don't.
It's easy to dial the punch out of your tone with one, but I do use them on both my WT800B and TFB550...just judiciously. Usually about 9 o'clock.
Usually we agree; here we don't.
It's easy to dial the punch out of your tone with one, but I do use them on both my WT800B and TFB550...just judiciously. Usually about 9 o'clock.
I play finger style 50's 60's rock & roll, Rythmn & blues and some country. I would like to get some growl on my E & A strings and not lose any loudness on the D & G. I know I am asking alot. Below is a picture of my amp although those are not my settings. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
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![d18a_1_b[1].jpg](/data/attachments/2639/2639819-55fe08f06c3782504241accc896a196f.jpg?hash=Vf4I8Gw3gl)
You know Ive been really impressed lately with my overall tone for any style, and I just change hand postitions for different tones, ex. play over the neck pup for a fuller sound.
My amp setting is Enhance/contour off, bass set flat, and slight boost in the mids and highs.... and a little compression to help keep the peaks down.
