Guys, I'm the proud owner of a beautiful S-2 classic, which is almost everything I'd ever want from a bass, I say almost because there is just one aspect that I'm having dificulty with. Whilst I'm very happy with the general tone, I am finding that notes played on the D and G strings are getting lost in the mix in a band situation, to the point that it becomes dificult to hear what I'm playing. For example, if I play a C on the A string, its perfectly clear, but follow it with the octave c on the G string, the high note gets lost. I have spent some time fiddling with eq settings and boosting the mids enables a bit more clarity but at the expense of tone. I have changed the strings to the same brand (elixirs) as my Spector, which incidently rings out perfectly clear in that register, using the same amp settings as a comparison (nothing like the S-2 in terms of playability or quality though;))
Could this just be a characteristic of the pick-ups or preamp? Had a bass with Bartolinis on once, with a similar warm tone and similar problem. Thought it might be a technique issue, but then it would occur on other basses I use.
Any ideas?

Picture of bass???

:D

Close up photos of pickup adjustment and string action?

thanks for the quick responses, I'll try and get my head around posting pics and get some on here:)

hope this works! If it does I'll get some closer ones taken


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Can't help with the problem but i'll be the first to say thats a beautiful wood, lovely colour tone!

Thats one pretty S2! Please say its headed! :D
(I must remember to put one on my list to Santa.)
In the meantime, I had a similar problem with the Eclipse and found that re setting the pickups improved the 'across the range' tone, so you could give that a go.
Have a look on the Status Graphite web site, 'cos if I remember rightly, there is some setup info there under Q + A.
Good luck!
M
B)B)B)

sorry if these are a bit large - only just fathomed how to post them!





Height of G string above neck pickup is 4mm and bridge is 3mm if this helps
Cheers
Andy

Yup, sure is :D

I've raised the pickups on the treble side, I'll have to see how it fares at rehearsal on wednesday, with the band
Cheers for the responses :)

The distance between the string and the pickup is proportional to the output level of that string - so you could try either lowering the action on the quiet strings or raising that side of the pickup (so as not to cause fret-buzz)
Not only will this increase the percieved volume of the D and G strings, but it will also give a much better signal/noise ratio - reducing what little hiss there may be, though... its a Status so there wouldnt be much if any to begin with!

*rolls eyes*

Beat me to it while I was typing.

According to physics (and Rob :) ) the output level is not only proportal to the string pickup distance but goes up exponentially. ("if you make the gap half as much the output can be up to ten times not just twice")

Err... Well... On the other hand side, if you measure output level logarithmically (e.g, dB), they are proportional again... :o

I just pulled this from the Status site.

STRING HEIGHT :

I generally set the string height on my basses up by 'feel' so there are no fixed heights but they would be about like this :
Bottom of G-string to 24th fret... about 3.0mm
Bottom of D-string to 24th fret... about 3.5mm
Bottom of A-string to 24th fret... about 4.0mm
Bottom of E-string to 24th fret... about 4.5mm

String height is always a compromise between clarity and fret buzz... sustain and the strings choking against the frets. It will always depend on your playing style and personal preferences.

PICKUP HEIGHT :

The distance from the pickup to the string makes a big difference. I normally set the bridge pickup to about 4-5mm and the neck pickup to about 6-7mm. This varies from model to model as some basses have pickups which have been made to take the extra string movement above the neck pickup into account. The closer the pickup is to the string the greater the output but this goes up exponentially so if you make the gap half as much the output can be up to ten times not just twice.

Hope that helps.
Score a browne point for the head :D
M
B)B)B)

Thanks for all the input, guys, I'll report in after rehearsal on weds!:)

Well after adjusting the pickup height, there was a great improvement........
BUT......
I found out last night that my 6 yr old son had turned the horn attenuator on my speaker cabinet, all the way down!! :@
One quick turn later and its now sounding better than ever
Phew!!
Thanks again guys

Lol!
Atleast its sorted.

:o
........:D
B)

Thanks for the advice guys. I had noted the lack of treble clarity on my S2 4-string. So, I will try adjusting the pick up height...but how? Do I just slacken the screws, or do I need to take the pick ups out and put some packing material underneath? If so, anything I should know in advance to do this?

Im not sure about the S2's, but the screws seem to do that on my S2000.
Its the standard way to adjust pickup height anyway - just give it a go sure :P