String quandary on my VP. I don't know that there's an answer for this, but hey, it's forum and who knows. At home it's bright and aggressive. With my rig at church (Ampeg V4-BH 100w all tube + Ampeg Heritage 410 cab), it's not as bright or punchy. The bright part is not necessarily an issue for me. I like thick not clank. Punchy thickness but with big lows might be the best way to describe what I tend to like. I'm not trying to cut through anything. But don't want hallow or dull thud.
Strings thus far:
GHS Boomers- OK, but no magic.
GHS Pressurewounds (alloy 52)- Normally really punchy with good mids. They sound really good and I could be happy with it, but not in the "amazing" category.
TI Infeld Supperalloy (alloy 52)- Very nice at home but kind of bland with that rig. These are on my '64 Bird and are beyond amazing. Not so much on anything else.
TI Flats- Used them today and they seem closer to thick and punchy. Sounded better than I expected. I did end up turning the bridge PUP off about half the time. Seemed to add some punch, or something good. With my '64, which is my gold standard, I am amazed with either both PUPs or neck. With the VP it seems to suck a little something out. I've tried rolling the bridge back a little and it's just another degree of nice.
Options:
I'm not sure if I should throw the originals (whatever they are) back on to see if a bright string adds a little magic or what.
I have some TI Jazz rounds, which I just found to be amazing on my new '64 Epi Embassy, when I thought brighter on a darkish bass was needed. But I was not really wanting to "copy" another bass. But don't mind doing so if that's the trick. My '76 sounds great with Fender flats--another shock. But it works.
I've been playing around with PUP height as well. Both up equally, Bridge down a fair amount in seeking the ideal mix.
After a while it becomes frustrating. I love the VP and not complaining about it, just the process of figuring out the best "marriage" with strings.
Strings thus far:
GHS Boomers- OK, but no magic.
GHS Pressurewounds (alloy 52)- Normally really punchy with good mids. They sound really good and I could be happy with it, but not in the "amazing" category.
TI Infeld Supperalloy (alloy 52)- Very nice at home but kind of bland with that rig. These are on my '64 Bird and are beyond amazing. Not so much on anything else.
TI Flats- Used them today and they seem closer to thick and punchy. Sounded better than I expected. I did end up turning the bridge PUP off about half the time. Seemed to add some punch, or something good. With my '64, which is my gold standard, I am amazed with either both PUPs or neck. With the VP it seems to suck a little something out. I've tried rolling the bridge back a little and it's just another degree of nice.
Options:
I'm not sure if I should throw the originals (whatever they are) back on to see if a bright string adds a little magic or what.
I have some TI Jazz rounds, which I just found to be amazing on my new '64 Epi Embassy, when I thought brighter on a darkish bass was needed. But I was not really wanting to "copy" another bass. But don't mind doing so if that's the trick. My '76 sounds great with Fender flats--another shock. But it works.
I've been playing around with PUP height as well. Both up equally, Bridge down a fair amount in seeking the ideal mix.
After a while it becomes frustrating. I love the VP and not complaining about it, just the process of figuring out the best "marriage" with strings.
. I'm not familiar with that head but I did have a blue line SVT/810 cab. OK, looked at pics online. Lotta knobs and switches to fool with on that thing. Try standing as far as your longest cord will reach and see how it sounds. Remember, it doesn't matter how it sounds to you, but how it sounds to the "audience".<Addendum>We never have FOH so all my experience is with us handling our sound.
