Rewire it if you think it matters. I'd prefer V/V/T personally. As you said, much more flexible, and you're not as likely to be changing tones mid-song with a bass as you would with a guitar. So even if it's a little less streamlined for the sake of that flexibility, it's not like it matters much - especially for recording where you can stop and restart the track if you want to switch sounds. I like having the bridge pickup on full, and the neck a little bit below it. You wouldn't get that very easily with a blend, if at all.
Cool! Good advice guys. That sounds like a p quick mod if i know whatto do there. First make sure that i have a pot that works for vol, then rewire.
Is there anything about the specs of this bass that would make it on the more difficult side to play? The setup seems fine to me... But it takes more muscle to play than i am used to! The action could go a lot lower but it also doesnt seem excessively high or anything. I could still mess with that or find put where a good bass tech works and take it to them. Is it the scale length... The string guage, are the strings just in need of breaking in, or is it most likely the setup? Also i am wondering if it is a preference thing... Playability vs tone. 34" scale length and these strings: Fender® USA Super Bass 8250/5M, NPS, (.045, .065, .085, .110TW, .130TW Gauges) Btw you guys have been a huge help throughout this! Thanks.
Probably the setup. If the action can go lower without string buzz...i want to go to there. Do it yourself, setting up a bass is pretty easy, just find some tutorials online. If you are messing with the truss rod, keep it to 1/4 turns at a time until you're where you need to be. Make sure you are turning it in the right direction. Fender Basses are crazy easy to setup. Do you play with a pick or your fingers? If you were a guitar player, getting used to the higher gauge strings might take some adjusting, but it comes with time.
Fingers! I am making decent progress, especially now that i learned how to play without a bent wrist, which was fatiguing me. I am wondering if part of it is that i usually cheated when trying basses out by playing with my thumb or more classical guitar style with fingertips. Both are more familiar. But even with hammer ons most basses seem easier to me I am Not bad with guitar setups so i will give it a shot. I should do that anyway to make sure the bass has no issues. Probably i will see how low i can get it, raise them a bit and compare tone and feel.
I love playing with fingers because of the dynamics of the touch. You can get the action pretty low and keep a light touch. Has always helped with stamina issues and not tearing up my fingers Most players just use the pointer and middle, but there are some that use something reminiscent of classic guitar style. Gary Willis is probably the most notable example. Check him out if you have that sort of finger independence and want to head in that direction. His playing is incredible. Since you are familiar with guitar setups, its all the same concepts at work. I would only hit up a luthier if you needed something beyond bridge/neck adjustments.
Yes, it's a bass. Other than that, it'd just be string tension. You're probably just not used to playing basses, though.
To be honest, wider string spacing at the bridge can make things a bit more difficult. You have to reach further back and forth each time. In a simple aspect, it's more motion. I notice this when I go from my 7-string to my 4...the four is substantially harder to play in the right-hand realm. There is more hand movement involved. Just enough to notice. I imagine going from freakin' guitar to that would be a huge difference. Thicker strings can be a bit more fatiguing as well, just a bit. Those aren't super thick or anything, but are on the thicker side. Especially the 110 E. I'm usually around a 102-105 E. I personally prefer medium to thinner strings. They cut a little sharper in the mix and aren't as boomy. I hate boomy, muffled bass tones, but that's just me. I find tone improves with playability. If I have more physical comfort and control when playing, I usually can control and shape the tone easier.
I hear you guys. Except it is not that it is a bass, like i said, i have tried/owned other basses that were much easier to play and didnt feel like the action was much different. I will still do a good setup and see. I see what you mean about playability/tone. I think as long as i give the strings enou room to move and find the correct pickup height i can get it a good amount lower. P.s. i saw gary willis' video and it was very helpful for the concept of how to hold my right arm so my wrist doesnt bend. I checked out Markos too but i am not ready for three finger style!
String spacing differences are only a matter of 10 or 15 minutes reorientation once you get more used to playing. I'd say that wider string spacing makes it easier for slap and pop if you ever feel like learning to do any of that. If you're unlikely to want or need that however, narrower spacing would probably be more comfortable for somebody with a guitar playing background. As for string gauge, I'm with Mark on that one, in that I prefer slightly thinner gauges for tone and comfort. In addition to that, I find that most pre-packaged sets seem to be horribly unbalanced, with too much tension on the higher D and G strings compared to too little on the lower B and E (the A string could go either way). I currently use D'Addario ProSteels, and buy a 4-string pack of gauge .40, .60, .80 and .100, then buy a single .135 for the low B. This is about the nearest I can find to 'balanced' among the major manufacturers, as well as readily available for a good price. I haven't had the cash to experiment with any of the more unusual gauges made by Circle K or Newtone strings just yet, but I may do at some point. For the time being though, I'm satisfied with my setup. Finally, if you can begin to wrap your head around 3-finger style nice and early, I'd recommend it. I've only seriously started to look at it over the past 6 months or so, and it's much more difficult to adapt to using three fingers once you've spent 10 years playing with two.
Agreed on the 3 finger technique from the start. I use classic 2 finger plucking and at one point tried to adapt to 3 fingers and it was discouraging enough that i just gave it up. I'm still happy with my 2 finger technique though and can get good speed and stamina, but you gotta admit that 3 fingers would probably be more efficient.
Feels much nicer after a setup. The neck had some serious bow! I couldn't get it that low without rattles higher up, and while I don't really go there, I would rather get used to playing on a setup where the whole neck is playable. It still feels harder than what I am used to, but the strings also feel very fresh and springy, so maybe I am just used to the feel of dead strings! I have a little more respect for recording bassists after today... everything is very naked and direct. Sure you might not notice it in the mix later, but during the process you definitely have to play very constantly.
