For some reason some notes on my Squire P bass are REALLY boomy (Mainly anywhere past the 7th fret on the low E and A strings specifically). Anything lower than that is just thin and quiet and I have to really hit the string to make it somewhat close to the same level. The problem is even worse with drop D. I've tried different Eqs but just can't seem to get this to stop. Any ideas would be appreciated.
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Uneven sound response
- Thread starter BackstagePlus
- Start date
Would the way I play have anything to do with it? I play with my fingers about an inch from the bottom of the neck and I rest my thumb on the corner of the fretboard.
Other than a setup/pickup height adjustment, it could be the strings. Sometimes you can get uneven response from strings if they're not installed correctly (twisted lengthwise) or you could just have a bad/dead string.
Oh well if they're that old, that could definitely be the problem. Especially with roundwound strings, when they start going dead they can do weird things.
Thanks for the advise. I never knew dead strings would do something like that. Would really high strings contribute to the problem? I had problems with the intonation a few months back and the guy I took it too really rode the strings up. Just shy of 1/2" at the 12th fret.
Try this:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/all-basic-setup-questions-answered-here-125382/
DO NOT take it back to that "repair person". He doesn't know what he's doing. Find a different place to take it if you are unable to do it yourself. IMO, every bass player should know how to do a basic setup or at very least, change strings.
Take a little time and watch YouTube (only high rated vids) and Google "bass set up". If you have any mechanical ability at all, you'll be able to do 99% of your own setups/simple repairs.
Again, don't go back to that repairer. If you stated what the issues were and he didn't suggest new strings and then set it up with 1/2" high action, he doesn't know basses.
Good luck.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/all-basic-setup-questions-answered-here-125382/
DO NOT take it back to that "repair person". He doesn't know what he's doing. Find a different place to take it if you are unable to do it yourself. IMO, every bass player should know how to do a basic setup or at very least, change strings.
Take a little time and watch YouTube (only high rated vids) and Google "bass set up". If you have any mechanical ability at all, you'll be able to do 99% of your own setups/simple repairs.
Again, don't go back to that repairer. If you stated what the issues were and he didn't suggest new strings and then set it up with 1/2" high action, he doesn't know basses.
Good luck.
I would think about using a tone generator to inject signal into the amp- if you can send signals that correspond to the bass's frequencies that go down to the low E and it's even-sounding, it's the bass. If not, it's the amp/speaker(s)/EQ settings.
Have you played through a different amp yet? That's a quick & easy way to get more info.
What happens if you pluck closer to the end of the fretboard? Does it sound more even?
@ 1958 Bassman, I only have one amp, a Peavey Basic 112 (The older kind with the horizontal chrome stripes, not the newer one with the red stripes and metal grate) When I play closer to the fret board, the boomy notes are still boomy, but the thin notes are somewhat less thin.
Exactly. This repair person doesn't know what he's doing. Find someone else or learn to do it yourself. It's not hard. Lots of info here on TB.
