Fender Precision Problems- Can't hear it!!

[The Burpster]

[quote name='OldGit' post='153284' date='Mar 7 2008, 06:20 PM']We have a thread on Laying? Damn! How did I miss that? [/quote]

Isnt it great how teh most innocent typos are the best.......

[steve-soar]

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='153316' date='Mar 7 2008, 07:14 PM']Totally agree but I think most of the damage was done through too many knocks to the head rather than excessive noise. Over the last few years I've been very careful about hearing protection while gigging. I've not used the best plugs going, but I've always used something.

The moral? Don't play in the Front Row EVER[/quote]
Or the second row, or number 8, or fly half, or......just don't play rugby. One of my best friends died last easter, after a blow to the chest, he had a heart attack a few days latter. We used to play at county level when we were kids but he continued. I broke fingers and collar bones when I used to play, the though of anything like that happening to me now
BTW, I've started to use Mack's Ear Seals, I just don't push them right in.

[Old Horse Murphy]

[quote name='steve-soar' post='153386' date='Mar 7 2008, 08:56 PM']Or the second row, or number 8, or fly half, or......just don't play rugby. One of my best friends died last easter, after a blow to the chest, he had a heart attack a few days latter. We used to play at county level when we were kids but he continued. I broke fingers and collar bones when I used to play, the though of anything like that happening to me now
BTW, I've started to use Mack's Ear Seals, I just don't push them right in.[/quote]

That certainly puts things in perspective Steve and I'm very sorry for your loss.

If a bit of deafness, a few teeth missing, the odd scar and arthritis is all I got away with, then I was a lot luckier than others. The thing is, I'd probably do it all again if I was given my time over. I still miss it every day.

Just remind me of that when I moan about not being able to hear my P Bass!!

[obbm]

Sorry to hear this Nick. As you might know my hearing is seriously cr*p now augmented with a lovely NHS digital amplifier in each ear. Call it all-day in-ear monitoring.

I take them out when I'm gigging but I have to be away from other instruments, especially guitars in order to hear myself. If possible I like to be on my own on the drummers left where I can see his kick pedal. I also use a two cab stack so that the upper, more middy cab is closer to my ears.

I'm a great believer in active basses so I can give the low mids a real boost which enables me to hear more clearly. The general concensus seems to be that the bass sounds much punchier, you know, you've heard us and of course you know the bass as well, it was yours.

[OldGit]

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='153319' date='Mar 7 2008, 07:16 PM']I think i'm going to go Active Si. Either that or 2 J PUP's.

I've fitted the Thumper now and given it a run out. It's a bit better but hmmmm, not sure...[/quote]


Jon's active eq stuff is great. I guess with stacks you can get 6 rotary controls on a normalish P scratch plate if you have a jack plate on the edge of the body inna PJ stylee .... J pups on a P body always look wrong to me .. Still that's what custom's are alllllll about

Do you elevate your cab? I know it's a "hear it anywhere really clearly" Schroeder but it may help anyway

Rugby eh? Hummmm

[Old Horse Murphy]

[quote name='obbm' post='153414' date='Mar 7 2008, 10:24 PM']Sorry to hear this Nick. As you might know my hearing is seriously cr*p now augmented with a lovely NHS digital amplifier in each ear. Call it all-day in-ear monitoring.

I take them out when I'm gigging but I have to be away from other instruments, especially guitars in order to hear myself. If possible I like to be on my own on the drummers left where I can see his kick pedal. I also use a two cab stack so that the upper, more middy cab is closer to my ears.

I'm a great believer in active basses so I can give the low mids a real boost which enables me to hear more clearly. The general concensus seems to be that the bass sounds much punchier, you know, you've heard us and of course you know the bass as well, it was yours.[/quote]
I must admit that I was thinking Active myself Dave. The Stingray is a Godsend, so I might look at going down the Jazz bass route and fitting a J-Retro or something if necessary. I'm certainly a fan of the sound you get live from your setup and it comes through as clear as a bell.

As much as I like Passive basses, it's just not working for me anymore.

It's a tough decision, but I think I've got to consider selling the P Bass, as it's too nice to even think about cutting holes for batteries etc in it. I've seen too many decent old basses altered beyond repair before.

We'll see what tomorrow's practice brings but I think I know the outcome already.

Edited March 7, 2008 by Old Horse Murphy

[Old Horse Murphy]

[quote name='OldGit' post='153417' date='Mar 7 2008, 10:30 PM']Jon's active eq stuff is great. I guess with stacks you can get 6 rotary controls on a normalish P scratch plate if you have a jack plate on the edge of the body inna PJ stylee .... J pups on a P body always look wrong to me .. Still that's what custom's are alllllll about

Do you elevate your cab? I know it's a "hear it anywhere really clearly" Schroeder but it may help anyway

Rugby eh? Hummmm[/quote]
At least it's early enough in the build to speak to Jon about some modifications. I'll speak to him and see what he recommends.

I have the cab elevated so much that they can hear me on Mars if I'm facing the right direction!!

Rugby Hmmm indeed. Still, it will be good to see the Boys turn Wales over tomorrow (Jeez I wish)

Edited March 7, 2008 by Old Horse Murphy

[OldGit]

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='153422' date='Mar 7 2008, 10:40 PM']Rugby Hmmm indeed. Still, it will be good to see the Boys turn Wales over tomorrow (Jeez I wish)[/quote]

Hum I just keep my mouth shut on game days

[martthebass]

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='153420' date='Mar 7 2008, 10:33 PM']As much as I like Passive basses, it's just not working for me anymore.[/quote]

Don't do anything too hasty Nick. A local bassist mate of mine (in his forties like me but more hearing loss) was suffering the same sort of thing, hard rock/Lizzy type band - so P bass a must

They've swapped out the backline and all go through pods and good quality monitors - all forward sound through the 'uprated' PA (inc. drums). I had a chance to play through the set up last year, the stage sound was much quieter but everything was audible and well mixed and pretty much represented what was out front. Is this an option?

[Old Horse Murphy]

[quote name='martthebass' post='153501' date='Mar 8 2008, 10:26 AM']Don't do anything too hasty Nick. A local bassist mate of mine (in his forties like me but more hearing loss) was suffering the same sort of thing, hard rock/Lizzy type band - so P bass a must

They've swapped out the backline and all go through pods and good quality monitors - all forward sound through the 'uprated' PA (inc. drums). I had a chance to play through the set up last year, the stage sound was much quieter but everything was audible and well mixed and pretty much represented what was out front. Is this an option?[/quote]
Not really an option at the moment Mart. We've just got hold of a new PA, so to suggest we upgrade our monitors and our guitarist to swap his new Marshall for a POD would probably see me hanged from the nearest lamp-post.

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions and genuine empathy: it's greatly appreciated.

I took the P bass to a rehearsal this morning and although the Thumper helps a bit, even when I turn the Eq on my amp to maximise the mids and low mids, I still can't pick up the bass.

I'm confident enough to have faith in my own abilities but I still find it disconcerting to play without hearing myself.

The rehearsal rooms had a Fender Jazz with a preamp fitted, so I borrowed that for a few songs and the difference was remarkable.

I'm going to sulk on it for a few hours (feeling very sorry for myself today, so it's a good job my wife's out or she'd kill me), but I think in order for me to get enjoyment and satisfaction out of playing still, moving the P on to finance a decent Jazz or somehting similar is the way to go.

This is a really hard decision and one that makes me feel pretty low, but I have to be practical unfortunately.

[bass_ferret]

Have you considered an outboard pre for the P bass. Somethink like a BDDI or EBS Microbass would be better than chopping up that lovely P bass. You might be able to borrow mine.

[OldGit]

Just put your P away for 6 months and play your Stingray.
You don't want to be begging for it back in a year.

[Old Horse Murphy]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='153526' date='Mar 8 2008, 11:18 AM']Have you considered an outboard pre for the P bass. Somethink like a BDDI or EBS Microbass would be better than chopping up that lovely P bass. You might be able to borrow mine.[/quote]
Thanks very much for the offer. I'm actually going to go down Tin Pan Alley later today and try out a few basses and the Microbass (and laugh at their prices). I'll see how I get on but it's definitely an option.

[paul, the]

This is the saddest story ever told. And my worst nightmare.

Isn't there some sort of trebling effect you can send to your ear whilst retaining the natural tone for your audience?

[Kiwi]

How about going to see a hearing specialist and getting them to map out your frequency sensitivities? With that map you could get a preamp made with a compensated curve for you to plug in ear monitors into maybe?

There are some very small internal preamps available for bass, such as the Aguilar OBP1 or you could even just get EMG active pickups instead. They have a preamp built into each coil.

[url="http://www.emginc.com/displayproducts.asp?section=Bass&categoryid=23"]http://www.emginc.com/displayproducts.asp?...p;categoryid=23[/url]

[OutToPlayJazz]

Sorry to hear about the hearing loss, Nick. I know how it is, though. I suffer most with our drummer's cymbals. Have tried more recently to play with the earplugs with the little holes which protect the ears' high frequency sensitivity, but give more of a good sound of the rest of the mix. Seems to work for me

[King Tut]

I think the moral of this thread should be to warn younger players of what's in store if they don't use earplugs.

I'm a train driver, and currently have to have hearing tests every five years. If my hearing goes, my job is down the pan. I gig once to three times a week - and I ALWAYS wear an earplug in the ear closest to the drummer. Not only does this protect me, it helps me hear my singing voice also. Took about 5 or 6 gigs to get used to but I won't do without it now.

SO LISTEN UP YOU YOUNG UPSTARTS............. Look after your ears before it's too late....pardon? What did you say?

Col

[paul, the]

Good advice, kt. But I think Murph said he got bashed about a bit. So maybe boxing isn't such a great idea for a budding bassist.

I can't read this thread without beginning to cry.

[Old Horse Murphy]

The irony is that over the last 10 years or so I've ALWAYS played with earplugs in order to protect my hearing!! I failed to realise that the 6 or 7 concussions I've suffered from (as well as all the other bumps and bangs; the stingers) have probably done more damage.

Agree entirely that earplugs are essential for all musicians.

Again, thanks for all your suggestions guys. I tried out an EBS preamp on Saturday and although it helped a bit, the sound that was produced was so far removed from that of a P Bass that it (to me) defeated the object of having a P Bass.

I've got another session on Wednesday so will try out the Wizards properly. If I still get no joy, I'm going to sell my P and invest in something perhaps a bit more hifi.

[Paul_C]

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='154338' date='Mar 10 2008, 07:49 AM']The irony is that over the last 10 years or so I've ALWAYS played with earplugs in order to protect my hearing!! I failed to realise that the 6 or 7 concussions I've suffered from (as well as all the other bumps and bangs; the stingers) have probably done more damage.

Agree entirely that earplugs are essential for all musicians.

Again, thanks for all your suggestions guys. I tried out an EBS preamp on Saturday and although it helped a bit, the sound that was produced was so far removed from that of a P Bass that it (to me) defeated the object of having a P Bass.

I've got another session on Wednesday so will try out the Wizards properly. If I still get no joy, I'm going to sell my P and invest in something perhaps a bit more hifi.[/quote]

Could you keep the rig as it is, but have a personal monitor setup that allows you to hear it ? So front of house is classic P, and you have a wedge shaped amp pointing at you with a more middy output ?

[BassBod]

Don't forget the EMG pickup option for the Pbass - thay have fantastic clarity, and you can easily restore the bass the passive in the future. The battery can be a squeeze in a P, but usually works fine. You can get them fairly cheaply, (and re-sell if it doesn't work out without).

BB

[Old Horse Murphy]

[quote name='Paul_C' post='154353' date='Mar 10 2008, 08:39 AM']Could you keep the rig as it is, but have a personal monitor setup that allows you to hear it ? So front of house is classic P, and you have a wedge shaped amp pointing at you with a more middy output ?[/quote]

That's going to be my next option I think.

[Old Horse Murphy]

Took the P out last night with the new Thumper and gave it a go. Unfortunately, it's not happening for me and I'm pretty gutted.

I even tried it with a monitor and although I could hear a bit better, it was pretty-much a Droning sound with no definition at all.

So, I don't think I've got many options left other than having some serious work done on the bass to have active electronics fitted. I'm not prepared to do that to it, so I'm going to move it on.

Very sad

[allighatt0r]

That's really sad to hear OHM, I wish you the best of luck trying to find a replacement.

[Old Horse Murphy]

Thanks

I think I'm going to look for a decent Fender Jazz and see how I get on. At least it would be easy to fit a J Retro if I needed to.


FOR SALE: A 1975 Fender Precison Bass (bit of a Bagpuss but I love it)!!!