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Hi all, a question for anyone who uses EMG bass pus.Or any active pu if you like. Have you ever noticed a difference in volume from one string to another over the same p/u. I'm sure I have this problem. My E string seems definately quieter than my A on the neck J p/p. The p/u is set as close to the strings as possible so no difference there.

Is this a recent problem? How old are your strings? Have you changed the EQ at all on your amp? Is the pickup too close to the string? I don't know for sure, but I don't think the pickup would lose the ability to pick up the frequencies of only the E string.

Try changing strings, and lowering the pickup to see what happens. Is the bass active?

+1 to lowering the pickups. It took me a long time to really 'get' that one. It may take some time and fine-tuning tweaking, but there is a sweet spot that your pickup wants to be in.

+1 back - it's surprising how close the pickups don't have to be to work best. Pickups are a good place to start...

Thanks to Fivebass and AzWhofan for the tips. I'll try setting the PU lower. The strings are new so I ruled out a dead one.Its just a bit odd cos the bridge pu gives good vol across the strings and is set roughly the same. Well we'll see. Thanks again,
Paul

EMG Pups are great whether it be the P/J set, 35DC, 40DCs or the newer CSTWs. I own them all on my Spector basses (I have lots of Spectors). The pickup height DOES make a difference but all my strings have near the same output when new and stretched. Dead strings will produce different output volumes so I would not suspect it's the pickups as the pole is the same all the way across lefty or righty. Try a new set of quality strings. I run DR and D'Addario and they are pretty consistent. Hope this helps even tho your question was pretty much answered.

EMGs are always good pickups,it took me a while to set them up, but once they are set up right, they make a hell of a sound

and of course, there are other thing to try:
1- amp and eq. Set the amp to flat - or EQ out - and play at different distances and angles from the amp
2 - room acoustics. If possible try #1 in different rooms, at different levels
3 - Headphones. Can you run your bass through a DI and into some headphones? That'll eliminate factors from #1 and #2.

Volume, Eq, and acoustics are interactive things and can fool your ears quite easily.

What kind of rig are you using?

Just this little setup

I have no experience with EMG's, but have used active pickups of similar construction (one metal bar instead of individual polepieces) in an '87 Ibanez SR800LEL. Balance between the strings was fine as long as I didn't turn the pickups up too high towards the strings, the E was just a little boomy but that may also well be the construction of the bass and the chosen woods.

Ibanez SR models normally use the Bartolini active... at least the ones that i know of. but I agree with azwhofan, it really depends on acoustics of the room, distance from the amp and other stuff.

Only the 500 and up from 2000 and later. Mine was an '87, when Ibanez used their own low-impedance electronics in the high-end Soundgears.

The Bartolini MK1's are passive by the way, but coupled to a preamp.

well, jeez Louise, there's your problem right there!! Take that damn thing out of the kitchen and your problem will disappear LOL

I think the suggestion to use a quality set of strings is a very good one, it's not unusual to get a dead string now and then in a new pack. The above suggestions are equally important to try. Also, where your rig is set up when you're playing makes a huge difference on how your bass sounds. I no longer am concerned how my bass sounds in my small carpeted, dead sounding studio that I live in, because I know how full and balanced my basses sound when played live. But until I figured out my studio made my amp and my basses sound dead, I was ready to buy new basses and equipment!

How long have you owned your amp and cabinets? It takes awhile to get used to the character of your amps and cabs. Also, having owned a Hartke V-series cabinet (a 2x15 cab), I know that although they are a decent cabinet for an affordable price, they aren't built with high-end plywood, and speakers. This doesn't mean I'm knocking your 4x10's; I just want you to understand that all cabinets have voicing characteristics that need to be taken into account when deciding how to EQ your bass or amp, and what kind of strings will work with your bass and amp combination. No one said good sound would be easy, and if you've read enough bass forum threads, you know we're all on that continuous path to great tone.

I hope you take what we've all said into consideration, and eliminate the variables one-by-one until you get the even-ness through the strings you're looking for. Let us know how it all turns out!

Good luck,
Ian