Fender Classic 50's P Bass

[keef71]

Hello Folks,

I'm hoping someone will have the knowledge or has had the same experience and rectified the issue I have. I am all ears and open to suggestions. Firstly I'm fairly hands on and there aren't many jobs I would have to pay to have done by a luthier. I can handle the basic day to day issues...set ups....electrics/pickups etc. I would draw the line at a re-fret or truss rod job.

So my issue is with my new Fender Classic 50's MIM P Bass. I have had to set it up.....neck relief....nut slot height.....bridge saddle height / string radius & pickup height. It was all a bit out but now plays like a dream. It sounds fantastic in the house string to string balance is good and no problems. I took it on a gig last night and it was a different story at volume. My rig is an Aguilar TH500 with a Genz Benz NX2 2x12. I play punk/new wave covers and it wasn't long before I realised it had a dullness to the sound. Also the string to string balance was out.....I adjusted the E side pup on the fly. My main issue however was that when I was playing below the 5th fret the bass was a whole lot quieter...above the 5th fret it sang out with more volume. I am dumbfounded.

I have a Di Marzio Model P which I am contemplating putting in (Is the stock pickup poor?) and also thinking about a Hipshot vintage bridge but I don't honestly know if this will sort the problem? I messed about with my tone controls all night on the amp but could not find a point that I was happy. Has anyone ever had this issue? I am very eager for a solution as I really like this bass and want it just right. Thanks in anticipation of your help and advice.
Keith

[mcnach]

Hmmm... I can't really help much here as I can't say I have an answer for your issues. I do have a Classic 50 Precision that I love (see avatar, I replaced the pickguard 'though). I found it fantastic stock. I like to tinker and change things... but my Stingray and this Precision are the two basses I don't see myself modifying. The pickup is great, I think. I does lack a bit of 'oomph' perhaps compared to some other other premium pickups... but the sound is good, balanced, classic... there's nothing that makes me change it. I have a bunch of pickups in my drawer, Seymour Duncan SPB1, a Wizard Thumper, a Fender 'Original' and some Delanos... I don't feel the need to use any of those.

How close are the poles to the strings? To me it sounds better when they're not very close. My pickups are also angled with a slope on both sides... I use DR Fat Beams (stainless steel) on that bass 45-105.

[Grangur]

I would expect this has to be about the set up.

Your profile doesn't tell us where you're based, but maybe another BCer can take a look at it. Or take it for a pro set up.

There is a thread that has a list of BCers happy to look at basses and their set up.

[Muppet]

Have you tried this at volume in another location? It could be poor acoustics in the venue......Would be a shame to condemn the bass before ruling out other factors!

[keef71]

Hi mcnach....I'm pleased you are really happy with yours...its the reason I bought one, everybody said they were great. I think I am just missing a simple thing here or I am extremely unlucky ?? It is however very early days yet. With regard to the poles they are set at about 1/8" when fretting at the last fret. I feel this may be a bit close but I took that figure from Dave at Dave's World of fun stuff on YouTube. Right or wrong....now I'm not so sure ? The angle of the pickup is dictated by the fret board radius/pickup height which will give a slope down effect from the A&D. The strings by the way are brand new installed by me last week. Dean Markley SS Cryogenic 45-105, I have always got on well with these strings.

Hi Grangur.....I think you are right but I do suspect my bridge might be at fault as I cut the saddle screws down on the E & G to stop them digging in my hand. Whether I cut them well enough to get a positive contact with the plate I just don't know to be fair. I do have another bridge which is in perfect order...I may try that before I splash out on a Hipshot. I am based in Anlaby which is near Hull a couple of miles from the Humber Bridge actually.

Muppet.....Hello, you make a fair point, I have only played in the one venue and it has been known for certain venues to make things sound all wrong. I think the one job I might do is change the bridge to see if that eliminates the issue?? I'm clutching at straws but I have this brand new bent steel bridge anyway. I think its a fair point to see what it sounds like in the next venue....unfortunately that is now February unless something comes in. We don't tend to play much.....the lack of gigs in my area is getting to be a problem and will likely retire me before I retire myself !!

Cheers

Keith

[Kevsy71]

Hi Keith - what was the setup at the venue, was it floor or hollow stage? I've noticed a big difference between 2x112s at home and on a stage...also (maybe my hearing) but competing with the other 6 in our band, I've been unhappy with the stage sound, but have been told it was loud, clear and sizzling out front. Maybe try cutting the bass and increasing high mids and treble when your at battle volume, or DIing to PA and just have high mids/highs through the PA and staying flat for your stage setup.

Cheers from another '71!
Kev

[keef71]

Hi Kev, we were playing off the floor...no hollow stage. Yes the 2 x 12 Can be deceiving I think. I play right next to a guitarist pumping out aggressive punk chords and I find my bass sound clears on the songs he doesn't play on. This was different though, the bass sounded dull and this problem with the first five frets being quieter than further up the fretboard. It's just weird! I'll try the other bridge I have followed by fitting the DiMarzio Model P I have sitting doing nothing if I have to. It might just be worth my while taking it to a good luthier?? Like I say it's early days though, someone may just chime in with "I had that problem and fixed it like this" thanks for your input.

[SubsonicSimpleton]

Your issue with the bass being quieter near the nut on the E string may well have been caused by the position of your cab relative to the nearest walls, and your position relative to the cab - if there is no volume drop on the problem notes when you listen to the bass through headphones, the issue isn't with the bass. Varying how close your cab is positioned relative to the nearest wall changes which frequencies are boosted by reflexions from the wall, and which frequencies are cancelled.

[keef71]

Hi SubsonicSimpleton.......the issue as I heard it was the bass was quieter across all of the strings below fret 5. I find your comment regarding listening through headphones very interesting and I will do that to see if I can hear the problem there. I am also wondering now after a few other people have suggested it that the venue may have been the cause. I'm not sure but I am willing to wait till the next gig at volume in another venue to see if these symptoms reoccur. Thank you for your input.

[Lozz196]

Maybe a slight turn counter-clockwise on the truss-rod and a quarter turn clockwise on each of the saddle screws? Sometimes a low action can choke the strings a tad.

[keef71]

Thanks Lozz 196......another good suggestion. The action is low (but with no fret buzz) and the pickup is set at 1/8" from the strings across. It just might be that the pickup magnet pull is choking the strings, I have heard this can happen but I've not known it happen to me before.