How to modify Our Bass Guitar Pickup?

[thomgun_lc]

Hi there!!!
I'm a bass player with a low budget . I'm not satisfied with my humbucker pickup sound, the sound too boomy without a clear sound. How about to rewound the coil or add some passive components (RLC) or some active circuit to get a different sound??

I have a question about how to build and active tone control. In my bass guitar there is only one pot to control the tone control, but i'm not satisfied with that tone control and want to add some low pass filter / bandpass filter to get a more unique bass sound, is it worth?

[Trout]

This might lead you to a site that explains the rewind and potting process, A lot of general information as well as several links from this site.

Cigar Box Guitars

Enjoy
Trout

[DoctorJ]

Disassembling and rewinding a pickup can be a real mess. They are ussually full of wax. Further there is more to the sound of the pickup than just the wire.

[Trout]

Originally posted by DoctorJ
Disassembling and rewinding a pickup can be a real mess. They are ussually full of wax. Further there is more to the sound of the pickup than just the wire.

That's exactly correct!

But, not all pickups are wax potted.

One other thing I have noticed, Capacitors used in a guitars tone setup have a fairly significant effect.

Another issue of course the amp itself. I have an old old Harmony bass my brother gave me that has 20 year old strings. At his house, on his amp (solid state) it was terribly muddy sounding.

I put it on my amp and it was extremely tight even with the old strings.

I have re-wound a few strat pickups only to have them sound no different or even worse. Though I have found on some El-Cheapo early 1990's Fender Squire/Strat pickups, Wax Potting them had a very good effect. Prior to potting they were very microphonic to the point of being able to reproduce voice!! Another nice feature was feedback reduction. These particular pick-ups were terribly sensitive to feedback issues. Walk within 10ft of a 50W amp with the gain up high and they really squealed . Potting them cleared it up to a useable nice sounding unit.
Trout

[thomgun_lc]

i think rewiring pickup too complicated. How about to build an active tone control for bass guitar?I really don't know the frequency to cut?Is it a low pass filter?

[DoctorJ]

The active tone control for a bass guitar is typically a multi-band eq and not a low pass roll off.

[Nigel Goodwin]

How about improving your playing skills?, a good player makes anything sound good - often blaming the instrument for a poor sound is more down to poor technique?.

[Trout]

Originally posted by Nigel Goodwin
How about improving your playing skills?, a good player makes anything sound good - often blaming the instrument for a poor sound is more down to poor technique?.

Wow, isn't that the truth,

I had a guy a couple weeks back wanting to return an amp because he could not get the exact same sound from the amp as he had heard in a dry sound clip. Same Axe, Same Strings Yada Yada.

Turns out, He did not know the correct cord! When I finally figured it out, I mailed him a cord chart with the correct cords used. After he learned them he was happy as a lark!
Go Figure.

Some of those cords Brian Setzer uses can easily fool guys into similar simple substitutes and then they wonder why it just does not sound exactly right
I am sure things like that apply to bass players also.
Trout

[SY]

Nonetheless, there are instruments that just won't give a clean, well-defined sound. Even in Jack Bruce's hands, an EBO still sounds like the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles.... Is it the pickup? Is it the body? The bridge? All of the above?

[Trout]

Originally posted by SY
Nonetheless, there are instruments that just won't give a clean, well-defined sound. Even in Jack Bruce's hands, an EBO still sounds like the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles.... Is it the pickup? Is it the body? The bridge? All of the above?

SY, That bass setup you mentioned "sounds like the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles"

Oh how well I know that sound!!

There are so many variables involved I think that I would start at the bass iteslf.
Try it on other amps, If it still sucks,
Try swapping out the strings and or caps (cheapest potential fixes first). No improvement?
Then try a few good sounding bass guitars out at a Sam Ash or Guitar Center store, Find the type of sound your looking for and shop ebay for a deal on either the bass you like or on the pickups for it and wire it in properly.

Now, If the bass were to sound great on other amps, It gets a bit more involved, at least more tricky budget wise.
At some point generally it becomes more cost effective to just get better gear for a lot of guys.

Hey thomgun_lc,
Exactly what brand and model bass and amp are you working with?

Trout