For the copper tape tip, it’s important to also put tape on the back side of the pickguard and make sure every piece of tape touches another piece, so all the tape is connected (faraday‘s cage, physics baby).
Solid overview of little things that go a long way when you know to correct them. And I 100% swear by straplocks at this point. I have them on all my basses--in part because it makes it easier to swap my strap between them. Although I have a new strap coming, so I need to go pick up a full set rather than just ordering the part for the bass.
Great video. I'm a new bass player and this stuff is very helpful. I'd like to hear your trick for making new strings sound old, and more about strings in general.
I got the active battery issue handled. My bass will switch to passive. Had to do it in the middle of a service. The guitar chord can be bad for no sound also. Enjoyed the video.
For a less expensive way to hold your strap on there are plastic strap locks that go over the standard button. I like the Dunlop ones that have a twist lock. They aren't as quick to remove but I tend to leave the strap on my basses.
Boiling you're adding water that can make the strings rust. Soak in alcohol instead to dissolve the oils. Without string buzz or resonating the nut end of the string, what can make a fretted string sound like 2 notes a half tone off from each other? The other strings are muted too, not resonating.
Another common issue is a loose jack. It can cause dropouts in sound or crackling. People will often break off a wire if they over tighten the nut using their hands or pliers. Holding the jack in place it essential when tightening because the jack will spin freely shorting the wire as it spins around the solder joint posts. The only way to do this correctly is opening up the back cavity. This is why it is important to do this before each gig unless you have a Bullet 2.0 guitar jack wrench handy.
Wouldnt recommend spining the potentiometer if its crackling, you just use one small piece of graphite to scratch more of the graphite and you change resistance value of that potentiometer. Clean it and it would be good to check it with cheapo multimeter (the value of potentiometer resistance is writen somewhere on it). Also wires inside should be as short as possbile to prevent picking up noise. I saw today in one video about one Squier bass... it had bindles of wire inside... all that extra resistance...inductance... bad.
My friend had an Ibanez tmb100 active bass guitar where the sound was cutting in and out. We thought it was the amplifier at first because it sounded like it was turning on and off rapidly, but the problem turned out to be the battery in the bass guitar, which needed to be changed. I also had an issue with the middle strings being really high on my old 1980 Hondo ii professional hd-1015. (quite an interesting bass. Symmetrical double cutaway like a 1961-65 Gibson melody maker guitar, but it’s got p-bass electronics.) On the model of bass I have, the saddles were not adjustable, the entire bridge moved up and down. It was bent quite significantly out of shape from 40 years of string tension, and had to be replaced.
The Dunlop strap lock always seemed like the "go-to" strap lock since the 80's., plus they're only about $15 avg. But I personally prefer the Schaller type you are using in this video. I think the Schaller's are more reliable but also cost $25 on avg. BTW, nice shout-out on the DeOxit.
Bass doesn’t make sound at all? Wiggle the cable, if you hear a noise it’s a loose jack spring. Easy fix. Bend it gently back. Bass plays out of tune on the low notes? Your nut might be the wrong height. Easy fix for a guitar tech. Also a good time to replace cheap plastic nuts. My bass is neck heavy. You can buy straps with grippy material or wool and it will help keep your bass balanced. Before replacing pickups. Try adjusting the height. Can drastically change tone.
I have a 5-string Ibáñez bass & I get fret buzz on the low notes on the bass on 5 strings. All the notes play great but from like the 4th 5th fret down to the next, all I get is fret buzz. Could it be that the frets are too high & are touching the strings?
My brother was carrying his PRS Singlecut by the strap and down it went. It was sickening to watch. There was NO way to blend in or “relic” the road rash and make it look good. Use strap locks.
My Fender Precision just seems to get out of tune after 2 songs, I don't know why this would happen. Any suggestions? It's an American made 2001 Fender-P. I love the sound I get from this bass and wanted to leave everything original on it, but I'm thinking I should upgrade with better tuning machines.
For the copper tape tip, it’s important to also put tape on the back side of the pickguard and make sure every piece of tape touches another piece, so all the tape is connected (faraday‘s cage, physics baby).
Thanks. Thinking I need to do this with my Jazzmaster.
Thanks for clarifying Loopy Demos! ⚡️
Solid overview of little things that go a long way when you know to correct them. And I 100% swear by straplocks at this point. I have them on all my basses--in part because it makes it easier to swap my strap between them. Although I have a new strap coming, so I need to go pick up a full set rather than just ordering the part for the bass.
I use a strap that has locks as well. Won't go any other way.
Great video. I'm a new bass player and this stuff is very helpful. I'd like to hear your trick for making new strings sound old, and more about strings in general.
He has a good video about strings you might like
Great diagnostic algorithm to cover a lot in an overview. Allows one to them take a deep dive into each subject.
Thanks Alan!
I got the active battery issue handled. My bass will switch to passive. Had to do it in the middle of a service. The guitar chord can be bad for no sound also. Enjoyed the video.
Thanks Kevin! 🤘
For a less expensive way to hold your strap on there are plastic strap locks that go over the standard button. I like the Dunlop ones that have a twist lock. They aren't as quick to remove but I tend to leave the strap on my basses.
Thanks for sharing 🤘
Useful for guitars , too! Very valuable info for anyone , beginner to advanced ! Thanks for another great video !
Thanks Janice!
Super helpful stuff! I'm loving the channel Philip, keep it up!
Thank you Nathan! ⚡️
Boiling you're adding water that can make the strings rust. Soak in alcohol instead to dissolve the oils.
Without string buzz or resonating the nut end of the string, what can make a fretted string sound like 2 notes a half tone off from each other? The other strings are muted too, not resonating.
Another common issue is a loose jack. It can cause dropouts in sound or crackling. People will often break off a wire if they over tighten the nut using their hands or pliers. Holding the jack in place it essential when tightening because the jack will spin freely shorting the wire as it spins around the solder joint posts. The only way to do this correctly is opening up the back cavity. This is why it is important to do this before each gig unless you have a Bullet 2.0 guitar jack wrench handy.
Wouldnt recommend spining the potentiometer if its crackling, you just use one small piece of graphite to scratch more of the graphite and you change resistance value of that potentiometer. Clean it and it would be good to check it with cheapo multimeter (the value of potentiometer resistance is writen somewhere on it). Also wires inside should be as short as possbile to prevent picking up noise. I saw today in one video about one Squier bass... it had bindles of wire inside... all that extra resistance...inductance... bad.
Omg, literally the first thing you talked about is what my tone knob is doing. I'm definitely gonna try contact cleaner.
Hope it is helpful for you! 🤘
@@philipconradmusic It did, TY!
My friend had an Ibanez tmb100 active bass guitar where the sound was cutting in and out. We thought it was the amplifier at first because it sounded like it was turning on and off rapidly, but the problem turned out to be the battery in the bass guitar, which needed to be changed. I also had an issue with the middle strings being really high on my old 1980 Hondo ii professional hd-1015. (quite an interesting bass. Symmetrical double cutaway like a 1961-65 Gibson melody maker guitar, but it’s got p-bass electronics.) On the model of bass I have, the saddles were not adjustable, the entire bridge moved up and down. It was bent quite significantly out of shape from 40 years of string tension, and had to be replaced.
Thanks for sharing 🤘
Great video
Great stuff! Love to hear how to make new strings sound old.. is there a different way to do that with roundwounds or flatwounds?
what can be done about bass with dead E string syndrome?? have you ever encountered this?
The Dunlop strap lock always seemed like the "go-to" strap lock since the 80's., plus they're only about $15 avg. But I personally prefer the Schaller type you are using in this video. I think the Schaller's are more reliable but also cost $25 on avg. BTW, nice shout-out on the DeOxit.
Nice! Thanks for sharing! ⚡️
the electric buzz might also be happening when you're touching the strings of the guitar while it's plugged in and your laptop at the same time
Bass doesn’t make sound at all? Wiggle the cable, if you hear a noise it’s a loose jack spring. Easy fix. Bend it gently back.
Bass plays out of tune on the low notes? Your nut might be the wrong height. Easy fix for a guitar tech. Also a good time to replace cheap plastic nuts.
My bass is neck heavy.
You can buy straps with grippy material or wool and it will help keep your bass balanced.
Before replacing pickups. Try adjusting the height. Can drastically change tone.
Great insight. Thanks for sharing James ⚡️
I have a 5-string Ibáñez bass & I get fret buzz on the low notes on the bass on 5 strings. All the notes play great but from like the 4th 5th fret down to the next, all I get is fret buzz. Could it be that the frets are too high & are touching the strings?
I play bass in a band and the guitar player has ocd/clausterphobia and won’t use strap locks. He calls them trap locks. Haha. I love them myself.
Also not shaming him in any way. I totally get it. We joke about it together all the time.
My brother was carrying his PRS Singlecut by the strap and down it went. It was sickening to watch. There was NO way to blend in or “relic” the road rash and make it look good. Use strap locks.
Heartbreak
Great Vid Phil!
Another Question: why does my bass tone sound dull when going direct? (using a passive bass)
Try increasing gain either on your mixer or pedal di box. You may not be getting a strong enough signal to your audio console.
My Fender Precision just seems to get out of tune after 2 songs, I don't know why this would happen. Any suggestions? It's an American made 2001 Fender-P. I love the sound I get from this bass and wanted to leave everything original on it, but I'm thinking I should upgrade with better tuning machines.
That’s pretty weird. Usually those are stable. I’d start with swapping out the tuners. Good luck!
How can I work on my bass to be loud coz my volume nobe sounds low even if turned on high
Hard to say without being there. You may have some low output picks, or they may be set too low/far away from the strings.
It might just be a crappy bass
your information is good but your execution is poor. if someone has no clue about bass setup they will not understand anything your saying.
Thanks for sharing your opinion Chicken. Glad to have you here 🤘