How to EQ a P Bass

[Supernaut]

Been a Jazz player for the last 15 years. 
 

Recently purchased a Precision and loving it. 
 

Had rehearsal last week and I was really struggling with the EQ to get a decent tone. No note definition, just lots of boom. 
 

Any tips? 

[Doctor J]

It's already EQ'd. The serial wiring of the pickup gives it a very musical mid-bias which really doesn't need anything but the most subtle of caressing. Bypass the EQ on you amp and roll off a little high-end to taste.

[chris_b]

What make?

 

If it's a cheap bass replace the pickup with a better one.

 

A good set of flatwounds always improves the tone.

 

A lump of foam under the strings works wonders.

[Lozz196]

I tend to cut the low mids, preferably around 400 or 500Hz, this takes away the boom, then boost highs, if possible at 4 or 5kHz to get some definition - I find boosting far more than is pleasant in isolation works well. If I’m looking for clank and to cut through I’ll also boost at 2.5 to 3kHz.

[pbasspecial]

Might be worth investing in a Boss GE7B if you need a little help in EQ’ing your P bass. 

[bartelby]

You’re going to get many different replies… mine is:

All valve amp set as flat as possible through 2 x 15”. Control the tone from the bass. 

 

[BigRedX]

If you like the sound of the bass you have already why did you get a different one? If you need a second spare bass then sell the Precision and buy another Jazz.

[How1]

If it’s stock, start with everything flat on the amp, tone on the bass set at full (for me with flatwounds anyway). Then just nudge the bass on the amp if you think it needs it. Treble control is probably just personal preference.

Edited May 21, 2023 by How1

[Lfalex v1.1]

40 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

If you like the sound of the bass you have already why did you get a different one?

 

Isn't that some sort of heresy you've just uttered? 😉

[Reggaebass]

It’s hard not to get a good tone from a precision, even with the tone rolled right off I still get note definition (on the fenders I’ve got) , what P is it and maybe it’s the strings 

[nilorius]

Maybe You should try it in front of the mirror.

[Elfrasho]

Everything flat. 

[SteveXFR]

I keep the EQ pretty flat. Tone 2/3rds up and plenty of gain.

I find my P basses sound like crap with old strings. Try some fresh strings. I love the sound of DR Black Beauties on mine

[Velarian]

How about playing closer to the bridge to make tighter and less boomy?

[SteveXFR]

Is it a used bass with old strings? If it is, replace them before doing anything else 

[fretmeister]

Bass control on the amp, 60hz on mine, is cut a bit to stop boom but the rest is pretty much all at 12 o clock.

 

Then I adjust the tone on the bass for the songs as needed.

[acidbass]

I boost a little bass and a little treble on the amp and just use the tone control to suit. Flats give me the perfect tone with very little work.

[Dan Dare]

As a long time (40+ years) J bass player, I came to P basses late and found it a bit of a shock when I first got one. The character of it is so different to a J - mid focussed, much less top, seemingly boomy, etc. Took me a while to stop trying to make it sound like my J bass. One I accepted that it was a completely different animal, everything began to change and now I love it. Some good advice from others above. Try asking someone else to play it whilst you stand back. That seeming lack of note definition and boom is completely different out in the room and in the mix, where it sounds solid and punchy. Stick with it and you'll come to appreciate it for its own qualities, rather than comparing it to your J.

[Rich]

Also... what tone are you after? 

[SteveXFR]

2 hours ago, Rich said:

Also... what tone are you after? 

 

Exactly. One person's perfect tone could be a long way from someone else's perfect tone and what you might like in isolation might be no good with a band. 

[BigRedX]

3 hours ago, Rich said:

Also... what tone are you after? 

 

And what is the genre and line-up of your band?

 

No great tone for any instrument exists in isolation, it is great because it works perfectly for the arrangement of the song and the instrumentation of the rest of the band.

[Rich]

Exactly. There's no point in getting a Jamerson P bass tone if your band/music needs a Steve Harris P bass tone...  

[SteveXFR]

And there's no point trying to set up anything if your strings are past it.

[gjones]

On 20/05/2023 at 23:55, Supernaut said:

Been a Jazz player for the last 15 years. 
 

Recently purchased a Precision and loving it. 
 

Had rehearsal last week and I was really struggling with the EQ to get a decent tone. No note definition, just lots of boom. 
 

Any tips? 

 

I'm a big Jazz Bass fan too but I bought a P bass after I saw a friend of his play his live and he had a great tone.

 

I struggled to get a good live tone myself until I turned the bass down and turned the mid up a smidge. I then turned the tone to about halfway. This gave the bass definition and a decent bottom end.

 

[bassbiscuits]

P bass player since 1994. For me mostly flat EQ, actually with a bit of added bass, and tone rolled off about a quarter. 

 

I actually love the meaty, blurry thud you get from a P, rather than perfect note definition. But that's my taste. Yours may vary.

 

They're very simple instruments so there isn't much to have to adjust to get a good, standard bass sound. Might sound a bit clunky and basic by itself but comes into its own in a band situation.

 

Good luck, and have fun.