Questions for bass players

[Stankfut]

So.....I bought my 14 year old a bass. It doesn't seem bad for a first insturment, much better than what I started with. Its a used Peavy Millennium BXP, basically a Jazz bass configuration with two single coils. Since I am not really a bass player, I do have some questions, though.

First up, when you play it acoustically, there is a lot of string buzz. Its not so evident when you play through an amp. I figure that may be part of bass territory, but I have no clue how to really set this thing up for best tone. Suggestions?

Then there is the electronics. The Peavy website says it should have two volume and a master tone control. I think someone tried to rewire it. The knob closest to the pickups seems to be some kind of blend control. The middle control increases hum, while the the rear control turns. I haven't opened the control panel yet. I'm not sure if I want to wire it stock or do something else. Again, I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks!

[Ed_Chambley]

Not sure on the electronics.  Can't help there.

On the buzz, it could be normal.  Guitar players hit bass strings way to hard which is how you can tell a guitar player playing bass, well that and guitar players usually have more ego.  The weight of the strings cause it to easily hit frets, that is why a smooth finger touch is necessary.

Setup is a matter of choice.  My wife is a bass player and prefers what I consider high action, about 13/64th at the 12th on a 4 string.  On a 5 string it is a tad closer at 3/16th.

When I play the basses around our place I have to really think not to play so hard so the string doesn't slap.  Of course, you know what fret buss is and I prefer the neck to have no relief.  So does she.  I have been playing Bass for years and I still sound like a guitar player playing bass.

I fool around with electronics on instruments.  Maybe looking inside you may get an idea of how many wires each pup has and try a couple of different configs.  I prefer a volume and tone for each, no switch.  Lets me blend however I want.  I also love old Ampegs as well.

[Stankfut]

Wait a minute....are you trying to say guitar players are heavy handed and egotistical? Well.....yeah, pretty much I have been trying to use a softer touch when I play, works better. I get the correct notes at each fret, I'm sure it is just exaggerated fret buzz.

I pulled the control cavity cover off, and some one did go in there....they used clear scotch tape to make connections I talked with my son, for now he wants 2 volume and tone config so I guess i'll just put it back stock over the weekend.

drgonzonm, I do read music, and I'm working on teaching him, although I may have confused him some because he wants to jump ahead of me. He also got a copy of Rocksmith, which is in a way kind of cool to start out with, but I'm glad I'm there with him to "help" him out when the game hits its limits.

One more thing.....I'm going to let him bang around on it for a while before changing strings, but any recommendations on types and gauge? What's the difference tonally between round and flat wounds? Also, the strings on this bass can be mounted through the body or top mounted,does it really make a difference?

Thanks again!

[Ed_Chambley]

I use 105's, Rotosound strings.  Not flatwound on 3 basses we have.  I have a clark small scale bass for the younger kids that has 95's on it.  I have a nice Fender P bass I keep Flatwounds on.  Flatwounds are really nice when playing with an organ.  Very smooth and do Jazz, Blues and Gospel very well.

For Rock and and Blues based music, I prefer a punch.  I use rotosounds simply because that is what we used back then.  There is probably something now with a better molecular structure that has the worlds best tone.  Give me a P bass and an old Ampeg.  Ashdown is making some nice affordable amps.

The ego comment was from something that happened a few weeks ago.  A friends son was over and we were playing around.  He loves dive bombs and shredding although he cannot play as fast as I can and every time he comes over he says he is faster than me now.  I think its funny he believes fast is where it is at.

Anyway, long story longer.  My wife was playing bass and he said "I'll bet you I can play it faster and cleaner".  She said maybe so, but we are going out tonight and listen to live music and I may have a drink or 2.  Bet you can't do that.  He is 17 years old.

He is a good guy, I just thought it was funny.

[Stankfut]

Just an update on the bass....It seems that the previous owner was attempting to install shielded cables, I,m guessing there was too much hum . Sadly, he doesn't know how shielded cable works, because he cut the output wires at the pot, spliced the shielded cable to the original wires with no solder and scotch tapped them together (ground and hot wires were touching!).I pulled the otpt jack out to properly solder the wires, and the leads were wrapped around the pins, again no solder! Its really a wonder that it worked at all. The cap and the leads on the tone pot was soldered to the wrong lugs as well. I put everything back to the way it should be, and it works pretty good (quite too!). My only complaint at this point is that the tone control does not have a lot of rang....put I was also using a small guitar speaker to test it, so it may not have been a good test. (I have a bass amp, but it is temporarily on loan.)

Ed, many years ago I was in a big box guitar store (Mars before it went away). I was playing around with a big jazz box on a bassman reissue, just kind of noodling a bit. This kid walks up with an Ibanez, plugs into a SS buzz machine and plays a fast run up the fretboard, sets the guitar down and walks off. I guess he was trying to show how awesome he was, but I laughed because it was so ridiculous. 

[Ed_Chambley]

This is cool.  I have a friend who plays one and it sounds way better than I thought it would.

Ashbory Bass Over-View

[thermion]

I've had a lot of luck with DR black beauty strings which are thinly coated to reduce deterioration. It doesn't seem to make a big difference in sound on my bass (epi thunderbird). I can just leave this bass out of the case and the strings don't rot away.

[Jim Coash]

I play bass whenever I gig with guys who seem to want to show off their guitar licks.  My brother visits occasionally from North Carolina and he plays more than I do so he requests I play bass with him and I enjoy it.  We have a rapport that goes back more than 50 years so despite the fact that it may be a long time between sessions, we follow each other seamlessly.  Somehow I just know what he is going to do and it works both ways.  Even when he plays something I have never played before I play simply at first but soon find a groove.  My favorite thing about bass is that even without callouses I can play for hours.  My style is to play with a light touch and plenty of gain on the amp.  When I practice bass I have a cheap Dean acoustic that works well and won't disturb anyone.  I tried for years to get my son to play guitars with no success.  Then he found a couple friends who played in the high school band.  He started playing trombone and because he learned to read bass clef I bought him a powder blue Guild Pilot bass used.  When he really started to play I came across a Crate 100w double stack cheap.  That is when my wife decided we needed to build a barn.  His four piece played out there even in winter with a kerosene heater running.  Now he plays all guitars, some keys and an occasional brass fill.  He also took over the DJ business.  I keep all the gear running!  Jim