Stingray G string

[SWR_n_EB]

btw, the reason i say this, is because i found i have the same problem with some amps. mainly GK and peavey. but that's it. ampeg and SWR work for me..but i am a little BIAS.hehe.

but ne, seriously, swr does add to the midrange a lot, and Ampeg has a good "thump" with a good sound. try ur bass on a friends amp, and u may yeild better results...

 

[Andy Martin]

You've got a point. Maybe I could solve the problem that way, but the basic cause is the sound of the bass. I've tried setting everything flat to see if I'm eqing it wrong and the G still drops right off. This is why I've been looking to solve the problem on the bass. Maybe different amplification may cure it.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Did you try my suggestion of plugging a set of headphones into the Bass?????

You'll soon know if the prob is with the Bass itself...if not then it has to be at the main amplifier end.

 

[Andy Martin]

Not yet. I don't have any headphones. Will the pre-amp in the bass be enough to drive a pair of headphones or do I need a headphone amp?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

just plug them straight in.

 

[SWR_n_EB]

i tried that, and the volume is sooooooooooooooo low, almost like nothing comming out...

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I have no robs with it....vol, bass, mid and treble full on...it wont be loud but there should be sufficient volume to evaluate the G string prob. I use it to even out pickup volume.

 

[TBone]

Well I used my recent aquisition last night, (1979 SR) at band practice and had the same problem with a thin sounding G string.
Fresh Battery, New strings, (D'Arddario Slowwounds 105's) New setup etc.
The rest of the strings sounded Ballsy as heck, but I couldn't for the life of me dail in the sound on the amp.
Here is the set up I was using.
GK400RB with Ea VL 210 Cabinet. I was also hooked up to a SansAmp Stomp box.
I tried working the Sans, with no luck.
As a last try I set the EQ on the cab at 12 O'clock and "violla" (spelling) my problem went away.
It just may be an EQ adjustment after all!

 

[Andy Martin]

I'm not familiar with that cab. How would I achieve that on a graphic?

 

[TBone]

Andy,
I would say that's a flat EQ.
To be sure I would have to take a look again and that won't be till next Tuesday.
Will make a note of it and let you know.

 

[Augusto Lopez]

Hi,
I've been following with interest this discussion about the G string(sound problem) I had the same problem for a while when I first bought my EBSR4 and that started me on learning about EQ frequencies.
First of all I don't believe you'll achieve much by listening to your bass through headphones(eighter pluged into the bass or amp headphone output) because, considering you have a good quality pair of headphones, the sound is going to be warmer and naturally clearer; maybe very different to your speaker cab sound. Next thing is that you need to hear how your sound cuts through when playing with your band. I'm certain that most of us(basplayers) with a bit of live experience have found out that to be heard you need(of course reazonable volume) to find your frecuency nitch; somewhere between drums & guitars, keys, sequencing, vocals etc.
I'm sure that finding that right frequency is the answer to your problem but keep in mind that you might sacrifice a bit of that SR slap bite.
For a while I had to choose between a finger style sound, more strong on the low mids and a slap type EQ, a bit scooped on the mid terrain(this is the graphic curve that can bury your G string), my answer to the problem was to get an EQ pedal and put the slap curve on it and turn it on in the song or part of it that'd require it.
I hope I'd helped
Gus

 

[SWR_n_EB]

Tbone..i hate to say it, but it's either ur EQ or ur amp, cuz i have found the 400RB to not have as good mids as some others, like i said before. but what Mr. Lopez said is some good advice.

 

[TBone]

SWR,
Yep, I agree.
I don't have the problem with my Walter Woods at all.
As I said in my last post . I believe it's an EQ problem.
Out of curiosity..........Would lowering the G string side of the pickup fatten up the sound if others encounter a thin sound, or is it strictly a matter of amp EQ?
I also feel that stage tone vs. front of the house is always going to sound different.

 

[Augusto Lopez]

Hi guys,
Tone possibilities are endless. the more you lower your strings, the more output it's going to have (being closer to the pickup) but be carefull with the distortion it can cause. One again I don't think the string height will affect so much the sound as the EQ; string height is more to do with the way each player plays(soft or hard).
I believe Andy mentioned he uses a Trace Elliot SMX series; I used to have one, it has a 12 band graphic EQ and two mid range presettings(plus low & high compression), I'm pretty sure that it is perfectly possible to find the right setting with that kind of amp. As an idea try the scooped mid preshape(good for slap) compensating with a boost of 70hz on the graphic for definition.
Cheers
Gus

 

[Andy Martin]

ok thanks

 

[LeftyLB]

Andy,

As the last 3 respondants are writing from San Jose, Honolulu and Melbourne, they have not taken into consideration that the usual misearble climatic conditions we suffer from in Portsmouth and London probably adds to the thin and weak G string sound.

If I was in Honolulu and had my Stingray with me, I wouldn't give a s**t what the G string sounded like!!!

Enjoy our tropical weather while it lasts!!!

Liam

 

[Andy Martin]

I know, life just isn't fair

In response to the posts suggesting that it's eq settings, I am experimenting and I'm also going to try altering the pickup height.

Tried it through headphones and it's still the same.

Augusto, You've got a good point about finding the right frequency niche. Both g********s in my band use Les Pauls which have a very bassy sound. Now if I could just get rid of one and make the other play a strat.

Flea never had this problem

 

[hands 5]

These are all good points that are being discuss here,but I really do believe that this is a pickup problem EB should have dealt with a long time ago
Because since I've change my pickup from the stock pickup to a Bartolini MMC-5 (I'have a SR-5)I don't have this problem at all with my g-string.Now with that being,not everybody's willing to do this with the MM 4or 5 which is understandible.

This is something that I would expect from some of the lower-end basses but for a bass of this magnitude,and price ! this should not be a problem which IMO a little half-ass !.As said earlier you should not have to go spend more money on a bass of this calibur for such a simple problem (or is it ?)that can,and should be corrected at the factory,unless you want to.

 

[Andy Martin]

I couldn't agree more. I shouldn't be spending all this time and effort pissing around with eq trying to get the right sound.

EB obviously don't agree though because I e-mailed them and asked that exact point and thet haven't bothered to reply.

Maybe they've got shares in Bartolini

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Hey Andy....I know Derek's on leave at the moment...why not send a direct email to Brian Ball.

Cheers.