Problems matching sound between basses...

[danny]

Post #1 for this noob (and it's kind of a long one)!

Hello all, I have a couple of questions for all the bassists here.

I'm having a problem matching the signal level and EQ between two basses.

My primary bass is a 1979 Fender Precision bass with all original p/u's and tuned E A D G.

My secondary bass is a LTD B-305 (no longer in production) with EMG soapbars. Once upon a time the LTD was an active bass, but the electronics were crap so I gave it the ol' snip-snip and made it a passive instrument. Prior to forcing the instrument into passive mode the pre-amp caused a db boost -now that it has been forced into passive mode the LTD has no balls. The instrument is almost all high-mids and, without totally re-tweaking the EQ on my amp, sounds awful (I guess that's why it was sold as an active bass, eh?)!

I have to have the low B string for a couple of songs, so I plan to rid myself of the LTD and just buy another four string and tune it B E A D. My questions are below:

Q1) Does anyone here use a four-string tuned B E A D? If so, what are the pros and cons to this tuning?

Q2) What kind of additional setup am I looking at beyond adjusting the neck tension and adjusting the nut to accomodate larger strings?

Q3) Out of curiousity, can anyone recommend a quality passive 5 string bass that would match the gain structure of the Fender?

[danny]

FWIW, I thought about putting this in the tech forum, but the bass forum would seem to reach my target audience more quickly.

[Tim Michael]

I play strictly 5 strings but one thing that pops in my mind is the channel depth on the nut. May have to do a little filing.

[knuckle_head]

A couple of things you can try - passive is fine if you select the right pickups. Your LTD sounds like it needs a better set of pups. If you are trying to match a P sound then try using Seymore Duncan's tone chart - the response curves they suggest are pretty accurate and I bet you can get close to both output and tone.

BEAD tuning works fine. If you use standard gauges there will be less tention on the bass over all and you will have to adjust a few things; truss rod, bridge height and intonation, and I'd suggest replacing the nut entirely and hanging on to the old one so you can put it back at some future point. A new nut is called for because the B string is goint to want to sit higher than the E string slot will allow for.

If you go with a 4 string set that is .135 .100 .075 .060 (or .055) you will get decent tension, minimal adjustment and awesome performance IMO.

[The Golden Boy]

Although you didn't ask...

Why not hook up the LTD's preamp- use the settings on the bass to be close to the P and leave them set that way? That way you don't have tweaking on the amp to do.

To kind of skirt the premise of question #3...

Although it's active/passive- I really like the G&L L2K series. Although I'm not a 5 string player, I've heard the 2500 is a really sweet 5 stringer from people that have used them. The G&L "voicing" of my L-2000 is similar enough to my Jazz bass, the only thing I have to do in switching them is the active/passive input or a volume reduction on the amps that don't have an active/passive input.

[Brian Scherzer]

The 5 string bass that comes to my mind would be the Roscoe Beck Fender model.

[danny]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I knew that I would have to create a larger space on the nut for the B if I went with the 4 string tuned B E A D.

Golden Boy: I could reconnect the LTD's p-amp, but it's not a very good preamp and then I'm back into dealing with the pre-amp boost over the passive P-bass.

I've thought about changing pups and I still may do that, however, the LTD requires a real light touch with it's ultra-slim neck and narrow string spacing (it's not a great bass for slapping!) and -although I can suck it up- it's difficult to adjust how much I dig in with my right hand.

The P-bass feels perfect on playability -especially for rock. It's just feels real solid and responds so well when I dig in. The LTD just feels more like a oversize guitar in comparison. All in all it's not a bad bass (the neck-thru provides great sustain) and may even be a great bass with different pups, but it just doesn't suit my needs right now.

Still... I'll look into the SD's.

I'm not familiar with Roscoe Beck basses. Is that a luthier's brand?

[The Golden Boy]

Golden Boy: I could reconnect the LTD's p-amp, but it's not a very good preamp and then I'm back into dealing with the pre-amp boost over the passive P-bass.


I'm not familiar with Roscoe Beck basses. Is that a luthier's brand?

Cool!

The Fender Roscoe Beck Signature:

http://www.elderly.com/images/fmic/55N/FBART_roscoe-beck.jpg

[danny]

Nice! I like the open-coil pups and the clover style machine heads. What about the switches next to the pots? What do they select?

I'm gonna call the local Fender dealers today to see if any of them carry this bass.

[lowendgenerator]

I would re-connect the pre-amp on the LTD and get rid of it. Get yourself a nice 5 string jazz bass.

[Brian Scherzer]

Roscoe Beck is the endorser and the bass is made by Fender. I have never owned one because I'm a 4 string guy, but I have played on one and it has an incredible range of different tones, thanks to the pickups and the switching. You essentially have two humbuckers that can be split and used in any combination. You can hear his bass on CDs that he played on with either Eric Johnson or Robben Ford, among others. These basses seem to go for about $1000 used.

[The Golden Boy]

I have never owned one because I'm a 4 string guy,

Don't/didn't they make a 4 string?

[Brian Scherzer]

Yep, but that was relatively recent compared to the 5 string model. I'm set with my basses now.

[The Golden Boy]

I'm set with my basses now.

Sez the guy runnin' THE GEAR PAGE!!!

:D


I say that all the time too... But give me a crack to have Scott Lentz or Roger Sadowsky build me *my* bass... That notion is out the window!!

[danny]

Yep, I called a local Fender dealer to find a Roscoe Beck V and it's been pulled off of the market, but they're gonna keep their eyes open for one. I'm gonna check all of the auction sites tonight.

As far as the LTD goes... I think that lowendgenerator is right on the money. I'm going to reconnect the preamp and sell it to somebody who wants to make the move to a 5 but doesn't want to drop a big wad of dough. The bass served me well in its time, but it's time to let it go. Now I'm off to find a Roscoe Beck model and check it out (I don't like the Jazz Vs because they are active only). If I don't like the Roscoe Beck then I'll try a Fender Jag with the low tuning.

[danny]

One last question for everyone...

I'm still in the 30 day trial period, so I can't put the bass up in the emporium. I saw a LTD B-305 just sell for $550 + shipping on e-bay -mine has a little more wear, but it will ship with the original case. This bass also has the actual EMG pups -not the ESP generic version of the EMGs. ESP no longer makes this instrument and I can't seem to find a street price for the used one other than that one e-bay sale. I was thinking $400+shipping for the bass and case. What do you guys think?

I'll put up a proper photo of the actual bass as soon as I can post it in the emporium, but this bass is the same make and year as mine -the only difference is that mine is see-thru Black Cherry.

http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/95/a8/instElectric_BassesB305.jpg

Body: Mahogany w/figured MapleTop
Fretboard: Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Style: Neck-thru, five string
Pickups: EMG-HZ, active

[lowendgenerator]

Ya know, if you want to get into another 5 fast, you can pick up an SX for around 150 new. They're made in china, but so far have a great reputation. I've got an SX p-bass and I dig it. I hate to sound like a salesman or a broken record about these basses, but it might be a while before you find an RB bass.

http://www.rondomusic.net/photos/bass/spb6241lpb1.jpg

That's a pretty cool bass for $99 if you ask me. :D

[TedintheShed]

I will be using an Acacia Custom 4 tuned B-E-A-D soon (it is being completed as we speak) along with my Acacia in E-A-D-G tuning. I've researched the subject a bit.

For future reference, when ever you need to balance a passive and an active bass or just two basses that are different, try this (http://www.tonebone.com/tb-bassbone.htm):

http://www.tonebone.com/images/bassbone-wedge.jpg

[danny]

Oooo! That looks like a fun toy!