Splitting P-bass pickups.

[NancyJohnson]

I've got an old P-bass copy (an Aria Primary bass) that's got a Delano pickup in it. It sounds great in isolation, but the D&G strings get lost in the mix when we play...I've tried raising/lowering the pickups, but to little avail.

I got to wondering whether I could split the pickup into its two sides and route two signals into a stack-knob to try and balance things out.

Possible?

[ikay]

Entirely possible but the two side of the pickup will then be wired in parallel rather than series which will sound different to a regular P (more polite, less grunt). Have you tried tweaking the EQ at your amp end to get a better balance?

[NancyJohnson]

[quote name='ikay' timestamp='1496909557' post='3314572']
Entirely possible but the two side of the pickup will then be wired in parallel rather than series which will sound different to a regular P (more polite, less grunt). Have you tried tweaking the EQ at your amp end to get a better balance?
[/quote]

Tried everything, pretty much! Different amp/cab combinations, different pre-stages, balanced set strings (and so on).

It's not my main bass, but I love to use it. I was considering getting a new scratchplate so I could reverse the pickups, but that would involve getting the chisels out. It just hit me that I could try a VVT set up and retrofit a stackknob pot to have some independency over each side of the strings. I had an old Fender P and that suffered as well...D&G were too quiet/lost.

Edited June 8, 2017 by NancyJohnson

[LewisK1975]

Don't know if you use effects, but it sounds like a bit of compression will go a long way to help you out with that...

[dyerseve]

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1496911523' post='3314595']
Tried everything, pretty much! Different amp/cab combinations, different pre-stages, balanced set strings (and so on).

It's not my main bass, but I love to use it. I was considering getting a new scratchplate so I could reverse the pickups, but that would involve getting the chisels out. It just hit me that I could try a VVT set up and retrofit a stackknob pot to have some independency over each side of the strings. I had an old Fender P and that suffered as well...D&G were too quiet/lost.
[/quote]

couldnt you just reverse the pickup by extending the wires between the two halves(and probably the output wires as well) so no chisels would have to be involved?

[NancyJohnson]

[quote name='dyerseve' timestamp='1496912736' post='3314612']
couldnt you just reverse the pickup by extending the wires between the two halves (and probably the output wires as well) so no chisels would have to be involved?
[/quote]

Misinterpreted...I was looking to swap the pickup around (a la the Mark Hoppus signature bass). The 'bass side' E&A stays where it is, the 'treble side' D&G goes closer the to the neck, where in theory the different position gives the strings different tonal characteristics.

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1496912052' post='3314601']
Don't know if you use effects, but it sounds like a bit of compression will go a long way to help you out with that...
[/quote]

I had a EH Black Finger compressor; a bit Emporer's New Clothes to me. May investigate a Boss BC-1X.

[Grangur]

If the volume difference isn't caused by the set up, and faulty strings aren't the issue, try swapping the coils round:
So the section now under the E, A will be under the D, G, and vice-president versa. See if this moves the low volume to the E,A. If so, change the pups.

In relation to the Mark Hopus thing. I've had basses with both configurations. I still do. I also have read posts on here others say, for all the agro of changing them round, it makes very little difference.

Edited June 8, 2017 by Grangur

[TheGreek]

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1496907284' post='3314557']
. It sounds great in isolation, but the [b]D&G [/b]strings get lost in the mix when we play...


[/quote]

When I first read this I thought you had [b]Dolce & Gabbana[/b] pick ups....can't even blame having just got up...

[dyerseve]

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1496915523' post='3314638']
Misinterpreted...I was looking to swap the pickup around (a la the Mark Hoppus signature bass). The 'bass side' E&A stays where it is, the 'treble side' D&G goes closer the to the neck, where in theory the different position gives the strings different tonal characteristics.



I had a EH Black Finger compressor; a bit Emporer's New Clothes to me. May investigate a Boss BC-1X.
[/quote]

If you see Grangur's post below this one I am quoting, that was the rationale I was using when I made my suggestion. I really think this is your best bet.

[LewisK1975]

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1496915523' post='3314638']
I had a EH Black Finger compressor; a bit Emporer's New Clothes to me. May investigate a Boss BC-1X.
[/quote]

If you're gonna go for one, I'd really recommend the TC spectracomp pedal. 1 knob and sounds great even in it's 'standard' / 'out of the box' setting..

[NancyJohnson]

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1496934429' post='3314822']
If you're gonna go for one, I'd really recommend the TC spectracomp pedal. 1 knob and sounds great even in it's 'standard' / 'out of the box' setting..
[/quote]

I never really got the [i]menage-a-quatre [/i]or gain/release/ratio/threshold...none of them seemed to do anything. I am a one knob kind of guy. Cough.