Pick-Up Height

[Slingy]

Just set up my newly aquired used Sub 4 and put everything to factory settings as posted on the faq. There were a couple problems with the set-up when it arrived, minor neck adjustment, saddles, and pickup height, intonation all had to be tweaked to get it to factory setting.

Well the last thing I did was adjust the pick-up to where it should be at 6/32 from the string to the pole pieces. But before I did I played a bit and really liked the hotter sound, it was sitting at 3/32 to the pole pieces.

Does anybody run their pickups hotter like this and work the volume knob when needed? Or will it kill the tone by having it too close?

Sorry not a bass player per se, I'm still learning what tones I can get from this bass and how to work the knobs, on guitar I almost never use the tone controls, just the volume. This is also my first with an active eq.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Having the pickup closer to the strings might be ok when playing further down the neck. But as you work your way up the neck fretting the strings, they become closer to the pickup magnets. The magnetic field can affect the strings vibration with odd sounding effects.

 

[Slingy]

Ok cool. I'll leave it at the factory setting. I'm still trying to get over how easy it was to set up this instrument. I can't believe I ever paid money to have this done.

OT posted a short clip of the instrument with a fresh set of Slinky's here.

Sonoma Wire Works

 

[Alvabass]

Well the last thing I did was adjust the pick-up to where it should be at 6/32 from the string to the pole pieces. But before I did I played a bit and really liked the hotter sound, it was sitting at 3/32 to the pole pieces.

For both pickups? It's a common practice to set the bridge pickup slightly closer to the strings than the neck pickup, since the amplitude of the vibration is shorter near the bridge due to the strings' higher tension, hence less "volume".

After making sure that the neck relief is OK and action is 3/32 of an inch from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings, I set my basses' neck pickup height to 5/32 from the bottom of the strings to the top of the polepieces and the bridge pickup to 4/32 (1/8). Then I lower the G string by 1/64 of an inch and raise the B string by the same amount.

I'm still trying to get over how easy it was to set up this instrument. I can't believe I ever paid money to have this done.

So if you're so enthusiastic about it, maybe you won't mind to try my suggestion.

 

[Slingy]

I'll remember that. I have the Sub bass. There is only a bridge pickup and no b string. It's sounding great. You can hear it above.

I can't remember who's setup tutorial I found by searching the forum here, but it was fantastic.

 

[Alvabass]

I'll remember that. I have the Sub bass. There is only a bridge pickup and no b string. It's sounding great. You can hear it above.

It's obvious that I'm not used to 1-pickup basses.

Great tone! Did you add a bit of chorus or something like that to your signal?

 

[Slingy]

Yes I just went direct with no amp, +6db boost at 110hz, +3db at 700hz. Then added compression with fast attack and release, and then some very slow chorus for depth. I really don't know what I'm doing, but it sure is fun.