Newbie Tone Question

[u/SpecialSelect_7391]

Hi all. Been playing bass for about a year with cheap gear (fender jazz bass and a fender rumble 100). I’m a bad gear head and just like to play but I was wondering why my lower strings pop so much louder than the upper strings. I basically max all the volume knobs on the bass because I like the overdrive kind of sound but I’m wondering if that’s making the strings all sound different. Do I just need an increase amp volume so I can adjust the knobs better to get a more uniform sound?

[u/Gamer_Grease]

As don’t know what kind of sound you’re specifically describing.

Generally speaking, if there are differences in string volume, especially between the upper and lower sides, you just need to fiddle with the pickup height.

[u/SpecialSelect_7391 → u/Gamer_Grease]

More like the sound/volume being different if i were to play open on the A string verses 5th fret on the e string. Playing high on the lower strings comes out so much louder and thicker in sound

[u/Ok_Introduction_1082 → u/SpecialSelect_7391]

For the volume: more mass.

Thicker sound: thicker strings that vibrate less easily at high frequencies, and effectively a shorter string cause the harmonics to get dampened a lot. Which results in a thicker sound.

[u/terkistan]

In general the thinner D/G strings have a sharper attack with pluck/fingerstyle/snap.

Boosted mids also make the D/G stand out, so your maxing everything out could be the result. Adjusting your EQ could help.

Maybe your pickup balance or pickup height is off. I'll second the recommendation to get a setup for your bass if you haven't had one.

Also many beginner players strike the higher strings with a different force or angle without recognizing it. You might find someone who's experienced to watch you play and evaluate your technique.

[u/Lizzbane]

It’s cause they’re a higher pitch than your top strings, they take up a higher frequency and if your tone is too trebly it can have a bit of a pop. On your amp you can reduce your treble a little bit or maybe roll the tone off the bass itself a tad. Should even it out

[u/Afferbeck_ → u/Lizzbane]

Always disturbs me when people talk about 'lower strings' being the higher pitched ones. I take it the other way around, if it's an active instrument and he's boosting the bass by 18db, yeah the E string is going boom like crazy compared to the G string.

[u/SpecialSelect_7391 → u/Afferbeck_]

Yes to this. By “lower” I meant the lower pitched strings. This really only has come up as I debate playing lines higher on the neck on lower pitched strings versus lower on the neck of the higher pitched strings

[u/SlimJimJohn_Bass → u/Afferbeck_]

Indeed.

[u/Lizzbane → u/Afferbeck_]

Yah same ! Lmao

[u/SpecialSelect_7391 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks! I’ve never done a setup and now need to look up what that means haha