Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Tacoma string volume
- Thread starter bigdeal
- Start date
Hey, Big
I used to have a Tacoma like yours. The piezo pickup is located under the saddle, and you can't adjust it. I can't think of anything that you can do to the bass to make the sound of one string louder, other than to try a heavier E string. Or pluck/pick it harder.
What you are experiencing is similar to what a lot of double bass players experience. Many of them will get A, D, and G strings from one set and substitute an E string from a heavier-gauge set to get a more even response.
Good luck.
I used to have a Tacoma like yours. The piezo pickup is located under the saddle, and you can't adjust it. I can't think of anything that you can do to the bass to make the sound of one string louder, other than to try a heavier E string. Or pluck/pick it harder.
What you are experiencing is similar to what a lot of double bass players experience. Many of them will get A, D, and G strings from one set and substitute an E string from a heavier-gauge set to get a more even response.
Good luck.
You can remove the bridge and make sure it is making even contact all the way across the strings with the pickup underneath. You can try moving the pickup to the center, there's a little play on each side of it. You may end up with an inaudible G string though.Hi!
I have a tacoma thunderchief CB10C, and I feel that the E string is not as loud as the A, D, and G strings. Is there a way to adjust the electronics, or the pickups, or anything, to compensate the volume?
Uneven string pickup is the big fault with the Tacoma Thunderchief. I've tried the above and though it's not as bad as before I still have very uneven string response with the pickup on my Tacoma. I'm hoping someday to be able to afford to upgrade to a K+K transducer pickup instead of the piezo which offers uneven string response and so-so tone.
Uneven string pickup can be a problem on many instruments. The contact between the saddle and the peizo needs to be consistent over the whole length of the saddle, and the saddle needs to be able to move in its slot in order to transmit the vibrations. Some fiddling with the saddle might help. The strings tend to push the saddle over so it gets stuck in the slot. Pushing it back towards the bridge pins might help. Straightening the bottom of the sadle by sanding might help, so might sanding the saddle a bit thinner, if it's too tight in the slot. But like said before, a different gauge might do the trick.
I think that uneven string volume with this kind of undersaddle piezo is an issue with a lot of acoustic guitars. The bottom of the saddle can be sanded/trimmed to shift where it puts the pressure on the pickup, but I understand that adjusting the string balance this way is a bit of an art. A guitar tech with a lot of experience working with acoustic guitars might be able to help, though.
Mike
Mike
Correct. And with any production instrument, these tasks that require a bit more care, will typically be where you'll get inconsistency in the shipped instrument.
However, while it does require a qualified tech to do it, it is TOTALLY SOLVABLE!
The key is finding the right person... if you're lucky enough to have such a person in your area, likely, if you live in a bigger city, you're set, and they likely won't charge hardly anything to do it... probably wouldn't take them that much time. Otherwise, you have to deal with the hassle, cost, and delay of shipping, but these are nice enough ABG's I'd think it'd be worth it.
Otherwise, if you're bold, and pretty good with craftwork like this, I think stewmac.com has an article on it.
I also have a TC ABG (tho a slightly different model) and it seems to be pretty consistent from string to string.
I have and play a Tacoma Thunderchief. Quick question... is this volume discrepancy only when plugged in? Or is it apparent only when just playing acoustic? Or is it noticeable under both playing conditions?
This is a great question, but even if the answer is "both", I'd still think it'd be a bridge mating problem, since at the end of the day, we're talking about lack of transmission of string vibration.
Or perhaps just a bad E string? Without having the instrument in our hands I still think we need some basic info to correctly diagnose the condition.
If the unevenness is only audible when the instrument is amplified, it's more likely to be a saddle/pickup thing than a bad string, I suspect.
Mike
Mike
Or a bad E string. I stand by my idea though that without more info it's difficult to diagnose the problem... assuming there is one. For example... how long have you owned this instrument? Have you changed strings before? Is this a new development or has it always been this way? Or are you just becoming aware of it now? Really... more info is needed to give some proper advice...
Kinda' frustrating, because I have this email from stewmac that deals with this exact type of problem, and at least one solution for it, if it's a contact issue, but apparently the article is no longer on their site or their article site is down (info.stewmac.com).
Anyway, here's a img capture...
Anyway, here's a img capture...
The thing is... without more info I'm not convinced there is a "problem". For example, if this is a new instrument, and the perception is that the E string is not as loud as say on his Fender, well the E string is not going to be as punchy... this is an acoustic guitar that has electronics installed. If this is also a new and unfamiliar instrument with the original strings, it is still possible for the E string to be bad. Yes, I agree that sometimes the bottom of the saddle is not making proper contact with the piezo, and volume is affected adversely by this, however, we still don't know if this "problem" is when plugged in, or when just acoustic, or both, etc, etc. FWIW, I changed the saddle in my Thunderchief to a bone saddle, and as with all of my acoustic guitars I have also changed the saddle on... there was a dramatic enhancement in tone.
Yes, I should point out that my posting of the article is not to say none of your thoughts are applicable. Just that if it does turn out to be a bridge issue, it can have the exact reported effects, and if so, here's some good info on what's done to fix it.
I (still) agree your ideas should be investigated first.
Also, my Thunderchief is one of the fancier models (with binding and whatnot), and I'm pretty sure it does have a bone nut, and the tone is great.
I'm an ex-cb10C owner. Mine had pretty good balance acoustically. Sonically - I never liked the Fishman so I ended up wth a Schertler insider. That worked tons better. I have a bud that did up his with a K&K Pure Western that he seemed to like.
My thought is to sort it out acoustically and then think about supplementing the Fishman with another pickup and blending the two.
My thought is to sort it out acoustically and then think about supplementing the Fishman with another pickup and blending the two.
