Weak Output From G String

[arginator]

I have a Yamaha TRBX605 with stock pickups and preamp, and the G string is quieter than the others. It sounds fine when I practice at home at lower volume, but is noticeably quieter when I'm playing with my band at louder volume.

Here's what I've tried so far to fix the issue:
First, new strings. No change.

Second, raised the treble side of the pickups. It helped a little, but not enough. Pickups are pretty close to the G string now.

Third, lowered the bass side of pickups to reduce the output of the other strings. No change.

Any other ideas? Do I need heavier strings? Is it possible that the pickups are now too close to the G string? Are my pickups just crap?

 

[RSBBass]

I would try changing the battery in the pre-amp.

 

[arginator]

I'll try that. But my bass has a passive mode, and the G is still weak when in passive.

 

[JTE]

I can't imagine any scenario where low voltage to the pre would affect volume on one string only. That just escapes logic.

So it's the pickups/string interaction. First, is the phenomenon apparent unamplified? That would indicate it's the string and how it interacts with hardware and wood. If not, the it's how the PUP interacts with your strings.

What changes in string did you try? I went through this with my second pre-EB StingRay, trying lots of different strings. Different gauges, different alloys, different manufacturers, and readjusting pickup each time. That specific bass' solution was some Ken Smith Slap Masters, but they were found after about a year of trying.

 

[arginator]

I went from DR Nickel LoRiders to Dr Pure Blues. The weak G was there before and after the switch. Not sure of the gauge of the LoRiders, but the Pure Blues are medium.

Maybe I need a heavier G?

 

[Lowendchamp]

Weak output from the G string? Did you try tipping her?

......Sorry couldn't help it

 

[Matty Koff]

Two questions.. what do you have your highs/mids set to on the bass. And if it's not an EQ thing, have you tested both pickups solo'd to rule out a degaussed magnet?

 

[JTE]

I went from DR Nickel LoRiders to Dr Pure Blues. The weak G was there before and after the switch. Not sure of the gauge of the LoRiders, but the Pure Blues are medium.

Maybe I need a heavier G?

Well that's where I'd start, getting more mass there to provide more energy.

 

[MattZilla]

Weak output from the G string? Did you try tipping her?

......Sorry couldn't help it

I read that as "tripping her" and thought "wow, that's some strong pimphand."

 

[arginator]

Weak output from the G string? Did you try tipping her?

......Sorry couldn't help it

Yeah, I set myself up for that one.

 

[arginator]

Two questions.. what do you have your highs/mids set to on the bass. And if it's not an EQ thing, have you tested both pickups solo'd to rule out a degaussed magnet?

EQing doesn't seem to affect it either. I haven't tried soloing pickups, since I usually have them blended equally. I'll give that a shot later to see what happens.

 

[RSBBass]

I can't imagine any scenario where low voltage to the pre would affect volume on one string only. That just escapes logic.

So it's the pickups/string interaction. First, is the phenomenon apparent unamplified? That would indicate it's the string and how it interacts with hardware and wood. If not, the it's how the PUP interacts with your strings.

What changes in string did you try? I went through this with my second pre-EB StingRay, trying lots of different strings. Different gauges, different alloys, different manufacturers, and readjusting pickup each time. That specific bass' solution was some Ken Smith Slap Masters, but they were found after about a year of trying.

As the battery gets low, a pre-amp frequently looses the high end response. The G is the highest pitched string. That was the logic.

 

[legalbass]

It sounds fine when I practice at home at lower volume, but is noticeably quieter when I'm playing with my band at louder volume.

Have you ruled out the possibility that the issue has more to do with your amp and/or speaker cabinet than it does the bass guitar and/or strings?

Second, raised the treble side of the pickups. It helped a little, but not enough. Pickups are pretty close to the G string now.

Possible that the pickup is now *too* close to the G-string? Can you provide actually measurements with respect to pickup height at each of the strings?

 

[arginator]

Update:

Went to band practice tonight, and put a brand new battery in. No change in G string output (just opened myself up for another joke there). Mid-practice I got out a screwdriver and lowered the treble sides of the pickups a bit, and I think it helped a little. Still not as strong as the other strings though.

Anyone know what the optimal pickup height is for a Yamaha TRBX605?