A string way louder? (brand new to this so be kind)

[mschubert2]

My A string is much louder then any of the other strings is this normal

[Mike_NL]

Hi @mschubert2, welcome to the forums! It would help if you told us what kind of bass you have. Maybe you can upload a picture? If I had to guess, I’d say that the A string is probably closer to the pickup than the other strings. Do you own a P (Precision) style bass, with a split pickup (which means it consists of two pieces)? If that’s the case, it might be as simple as lowering the pickup piece that’s under the E and A strings a little bit (on the A side, obviously).

[Jazzbass19]

@Mike_NL

If I had to guess, I’d say that the A string is probably closer to the pickup than the other strings.

Agreed, @Mike_NL . . . needs a pickup adustment . . .

Cheers
Joe

[dtyscrt]

Also, is the A string brand new or much younger than the other strings? Or maybe a different brand?

[mschubert2]

Hi I have a Yamaha TRBX174EW

[mschubert2]

They are all the same 6 weeks with the new bass

[Barney]

@mschubert2 you could try using a small Phillips head screwdriver. Turn the screw indicated by the red arrow clockwise. This will move the pickup closer to the body of the bass and away from the A string. The further the pickup is away from the string the quieter it will be; if it makes it better good, if not undo what you did.

[MikeC]

@mschubert2

My A string is much louder then any of the other strings is this normal

Fear not. This is a safe place and you’re among friends. Ask anything and the group will help you arrive at a solution. Everyone is a beginner at the beginning.

[Jazzbass19]

Could ALSO be that the E,D, and G strings are too FAR from the pickups . . .

In that case you’d want to raise the pickups under those strings.

[Mike_NL]

A-hah! Yes, that could be the problem as well. I think it’s important to get all strings at an even volume. Then you can decide if you think all strings are too loud or not loud enough, and adjust the pickup(s) accordingly.

[mschubert2]

Here is mine what do you think

[John_E]

Has it been properly set up?
This (btw) does not happen generally when you buy a new bass from a big box store or Sweetwater.
There are several steps in setting up a bass properly.
It is not hard, but takes patience and a bit of learning.
Could be the pickup height, could be the string height.
String hieght, truss rod adjustment, intonation adjustment are all related and should be done correctly otherwise one thing may throw the other off.
It sounds scary but I promise you it isn’t.

I think you mentioned it is fairly new, which tells me it might need its first setup.

Here is a good thread listing a few different methods (no one method is THE method btw)

Bass setup Video Index (and tips)

Bass setup videos seem to get shared a lot around here, so I thought it might be beneficial to have them in one thread that can be referenced, versus constantly attaching them in different threads… This could also be a good place to add tips and tricks related to bass setup in order to keep all that info together. I will collect any videos/tips shared and add them to this first post. Feel free to add anything helpful… “Official” @JoshFossgreen -approved setup info [Make Your Sh*tty …

[mschubert2]

Thanks

[Wombat-metal]

Split P style pickups are often angled from the factory to match the curve of the strings. I agree adjusting the screw seems to be in order. Been there, both as a beginner and as a victim of this particular issue. All part of the process.

Ask anything you like, we’re a friendly bunch around here.

[Celticstar]

@mschubert2 Are you doing the B2B course?

Also make sure you drop in to the Introduce Yourself topic.
Here is a link.

Introduce Yourself! (2018-2022)

Welcome to the Bass Buzz forum! If you haven’t already done so, the Chat forum is a great place to start a thread saying hi and introducing yourself. I’m really excited for everyone to have a chance to build some community around learning bass and playing music! I’ll start! Here’s some stuff you might not know about me from watching me teach you bass for hours and hours: After years of wanting to, I finally started studying martial arts this last year (Jeet Kune Do mostly, plus some Muay Cha…

Have fun on the journey.

[MikeC]

A resounding recommendation for a pro setup, especially if you are brand new to the bass.

As others have said, doing a DIY setup isn’t all that difficult, but you do need to know what you’re doing first.

There are lots of great videos out there created by longtime pros, but you need to study, learn and practice in order to do it well and with confidence. Hmmm, sounds like something else that requires study, learning and practice. If only there were a beginner to badass resource out there…

[autumnsdad1990]

So a bass isn’t really just a thing you play. There are some processes to ready them for play, and some minor maintenance stuff. All of these guys are on point.
If you don’t feel comfortable with doing this stuff, maybe go to a luthier or your local music resource store? Typically a professional setup isn’t terribly expensive. And it puts the bass into a very playable state.
Being a beginner is hard enough. Playing on an instrument that isn’t functioning correctly makes it harder.

A lot of techs will set action specifically for you, primarily for strength of attack.
They will also do intonation settings so your instrument is in tune with itself.

So if you’re good with minor maintenance, there are a lot of resources online. If you got a small fee handy, a pro setup may be a really good start to learning to play.
Best of luck!

[mschubert2]

Yes I am doing the B2B. Course

[mschubert2]

I’ve decided to get a professional setup, it would drive me crazy not knowing it was set up properly. Hopefully I will be Able to watch and learn

[autumnsdad1990]

Good answer on dropping that cash. Josh gonna have you vibrating the walls down.