SUB5 MM (USA) Trying To Get A Dialed In Tone

[RailRhoad]

Hey guys, so I was doing a lot of research on the right "best for the money" bass and I struck a great deal on my MM SUB5. I've probably played about 5 services with it now (using a POD X3 Live direct in). I'm having trouble dialing in tone and so I have a few fundamental questions maybe someone can help me with.

1. The knob to engage the active pickups seems way too overpowered, any time I bring it up it turns immediately "woofy" and I lose definition. Is this common?

2. I've rolled up the tone knob but it sounds too gnarly (stringy) and I usually have it barely up.

3. I had flatwounds (since I play worship music) and I think that took a fair amount of my presence away. I've just recently switched to medium rounds and am interested to hear what it sounds like.

4. My overall tone lacks clarity, it tends to be a lot of low end without a definitive punch tone (maybe I've been listening to too many fender basses). I've been playing a lot lately and I've researched to know that my hands produce much of my tone. I also know this has a lot to do with my amp settings and how I have my POD X3 setup. I typically play in a simulated GK or Ampeg head and simulated 8x10 Ampeg cab (as I've researched this to be the best pairing).

I only run some slight compression and that's about it. Any tips/links are greatly appreciated! I'm very dedicated in improving my bass tone here...

 

[RailRhoad]

And by more punch, I think a better term would be more "thump".

 

[five7]

I have owned many sub 5's, what is this "knob to engage the active pickups" you speak of. All of mine had 3 knobs, volume, hi's, low's. Put on a set of slinky's and punch city! I can only imagine what a set of cobalts would sound like on one.

 

[njhammer]

I have owned many sub 5's, what is this "knob to engage the active pickups" you speak of. All of mine had 3 knobs, volume, hi's, low's. Put on a set of slinky's and punch city! I can only imagine what a set of cobalts would sound like on one.

I'd like to know too. I believe the USA SUBs were available active or passive but not with a switching option.

 

[djaxup]

I need to play my Stingray at the correct spot with my fingers to achieve my sound for punch/oomph. If I play just an inch more to the neck, it is a broad and bassy sound, nice for ballad stuff. If I move my fingers to the bridge even a bit, the sound gets snappy, trebly and very defined. It's really a sweet spot to hit, and the reason why I mainly play that bass with just my index finger. The middle finger already sound very different because of the different position where I hit the string (and of course because the middle finger just sounds different anyways, mine is softer than the index). So to get a really even sound I just use one finger.

About your bass, it sounds like it was modified in some way. Normally you only have volume, bass and treble knobs and that's it. For a punchy tone with low mid grit I usually set both knobs about 50%, and then to taste. Too much bass, and it will get boomy and broad. Too much treble and the upper mids and treble will eat away the low mid punch.

It is also wildly different from amp to amp. But I can tell you... Mesa M6 Carbine with the voicing set to 5 (huge low mid hump middy rock sound) and the Ray set to ~50% on both knobs will punch your guts out without sounding even a tad muddy.