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Making a '78 P-Bass a little more 'sonically versatile'

TheButler

By TheButler,
in Bass Guitars

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TheButler Enthusiast

TheButler

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All in the title. So, I love the P-Bass. Had it a good few years, and its properly played in now. It is my only bass. Don't have the money to get a 70's Jazz at the moment - which [i]is[/i] the next purchase.

The bass is all original, I don't particularly want to swap out pups, or have any internal pre-amp. So, what options do I have here? By versatile I kinda just want it to do something other than [i]that[/i] thunderous P-Bass sound. I currently have 4 year old thomastik flats on it too... Don't get me wrong I love the sound it does, and need that sound 75% of the time. I just need something a little more 'articulate' the other 25%.

Ideas?

tredders Mentor

tredders

Posted
Posted

How about adding a P Retro - they don't need any modification to fit.

I've got one in my Shuker, and it gives a lot of flexibility.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/bRKwHe5ZkZc[/youtube]

TheButler Enthusiast

TheButler

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[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1379881955' post='2217833']
Put rounds on it ? Then you'll get less thunder
[/quote]

My delicate fingers unfortunately dictate roundwounds. Last time I played roundwounds I had pretty bad dermititis on my hands. You're right though, it would open up the sound so I won't discount them!

P-Retro... always been aware of them, might have a shufty.

Geek99 Grand Master

Geek99

Posted
Posted (edited)

Delicate fingers ? Put some rounds on, you complete pansy :)

Seriously - I had a jretro for a while and it's worth thinking about. You can't make sound that isn't there though so ground wounds / flats might defeat it a little

Edited by Geek99
hamfist Rising Star

hamfist

Posted
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If you're getting genuine dermatitis with nickel roundwounds, you very likely have an allergy to nickel. Try Steel roundwounds instead.... much lower nickel content.

TheButler Enthusiast

TheButler

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[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1379882336' post='2217844']
Delicate fingers ? Put some rounds on, you complete pansy :)

Seriously - I had a jretro for a while and it's worth thinking about. You can't make sound that isn't there though so ground wounds / flats might defeat it a little
[/quote]

It was seriously bad... they looked like a melted cheese toasty. Proper disgusting stuff. When proper going for (geein' it laldy) bits of skin would be flying all over the front row.

Okay so John East, and a search for outboard pre's maybe.

fretmeister Grand Master

fretmeister

Posted
Posted

GHS Pressure wound strings. Tone up for articulate. Tone down for thunder.

I bet yours kill problems were from a nickel reaction. So Steel flats like Chromes are a great option too. Super reactive to the tone control too.

Or an outboard preamp like the new VT Bass DI, or a Tone Hammer.

paul_5 Grand Master

paul_5

Posted
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Another +1 for the John East. I've had a couple of J retros, and if the P retro is half as good as those were, then it's well worth getting!

TheButler Enthusiast

TheButler

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[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1379882874' post='2217873']
amp Eq. Tone out the thunder when you need it.
[/quote]

The Mesa's EQ doesn't give me enough to play with. I can't really 'sculpt' - there is little deviation from what is an overwhelmingly thumpy rumble.

I'm just starting to get complaints from band members that I sound out of the mix on everything except Jamerson-ey/Motown stuff.

discreet Grand Master

discreet

Posted
Posted

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1379883177' post='2217886']
Hope I'm not going OT here, but why not leave the bass alone and just add pedals?
[/quote]

You're not OT Jack - I have suggested this already and as we all know I never go OT, ever. :mellow:

TheButler Enthusiast

TheButler

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Posted (edited)

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1379883177' post='2217886']
Hope I'm not going OT here, but why not leave the bass alone and just add pedals?
[/quote]

This is for sure a very simple thing that I evidently overlooked. Tone Hammer and VT Bass DI are on the 'to google' list. :)

Some of you may think that at this rate I could just as well buy another bass. Unfortunately, I have a sort of seperate bass fund, that a 70's Jazz will be coming out of. Current household ambience dictates that no new basses shall pass the front door threshold.

Edited by TheButler
discreet Grand Master

discreet

Posted
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[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1379883369' post='2217894']
OK Mark, I'm blaming the really late night last night and the vintage rum this evening ...
[/quote]

Ohhh! Right that's it, I'm off to catch last orders! Don't wait up! ;)

Happy Jack Grand Master

Happy Jack

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[quote name='TheButler' timestamp='1379883493' post='2217897']
Tone Hammer and VT Bass DI are on the 'to google' list. :)
[/quote]

And jolly good they are too, but don't forget all the toys. Fuzz & distortion, chorus & tremolo, synth & envelope filters, blah blah blah ...

TheButler Enthusiast

TheButler

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[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1379883603' post='2217902']
And jolly good they are too, but don't forget all the toys. Fuzz & distortion, chorus & tremolo, synth & envelope filters, blah blah blah ...
[/quote]

Eh. Naw. :)

LukeFRC Grand Master

LukeFRC

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[quote name='TheButler' timestamp='1379883150' post='2217885']
The Mesa's EQ doesn't give me enough to play with. I can't really 'sculpt' - there is little deviation from what is an overwhelmingly thumpy rumble.

I'm just starting to get complaints from band members that I sound out of the mix on everything except Jamerson-ey/Motown stuff.
[/quote]

? that sounds a wee bit odd. Time for new strings then. If round wounds messed with your hands was that cos they were nickels or just generally? Set of cheap strings costs what £10 - try it out see what happens.
Also how old is the lead... old leads if they get damaged can act as an extra tone control...

TheButler Enthusiast

TheButler

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Well, the lead was newish. Got nicked at last gig though. My money is on the keyboard player. He had a shifty look about him after the gig.

I think it was the nickel thing. These flatwounds mustn't be nickel, I've never had a problem with them. So what strings have zero nickel then? Someone mentioned GHS Pressure somethings. They frankly just [i]sound[/i] cool. I really can't go back to having those 3rd degree burn hands again. It was awful.

Geek99 Grand Master

Geek99

Posted
Posted (edited)

Contact strings direct ? They can surely point you at nickel free strings.
Your problem is not exactly rare according to a quick google search. This problem has a solution and a fairly cheap one

Edited by Geek99

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