Smith Soaps vs. J's ... opinions?

[Greg Lorisco]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

Thanks Greg yes thats the model... I have my eye on one and plan on going to try it out.... I assume you meant "tight" not "light" ?

I very much want a tight bridge type tone this may be a good fit.
- T

I actualy meant "light". To my ear the Jazz bass sound lacks some of the fullness and roundness of soaps. That may be different on a KS?

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Greg Lorisco

I actualy meant "light". To my ear the Jazz bass sound lacks some of the fullness and roundness of soaps. That may be different on a KS?

Thanks .... I had an MW with soaps briefly. I still feel like I should have gave the bass a "better" chance, the tone did not work out very well for me back then, Im giving it another go with the J's though... maybe the lightness you are talking about is what I was missing with the soaps....

anyway....
- T

[Greg Lorisco]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

Thanks .... I had an MW with soaps briefly. I still feel like I should have gave the bass a "better" chance, the tone did not work out very well for me back then, Im giving it another go with the J's though... maybe the lightness you are talking about is what I was missing with the soaps....

anyway....
- T

What was bad about the tone or what tone were you looking for?

So many variables with tone; wood, neck, pickups, strings, etc. So it could have been something other than the pickups.

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Greg Lorisco

What was bad about the tone or what tone were you looking for?

So many variables with tone; wood, neck, pickups, strings, etc. So it could have been something other than the pickups.

Not that the tone was bad I just needed more cut.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

Not that the tone was bad I just needed more cut.

The best way to eq the bass for cut is to cut the mids when you boost the treble and bass. This makes the sound tighter and notched so it cuts thru.

Try that!

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

The best way to eq the bass for cut is to cut the mids when you boost the treble and bass. This makes the sound tighter and notched so it cuts thru.

Try that!

Thanks Ken, I will... looking hard right now for my new/used Smith.
- T

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

The best way to eq the bass for cut is to cut the mids when you boost the treble and bass. This makes the sound tighter and notched so it cuts thru.

Try that!

Am I reading or interpreting this correctly? If so and If you are referring to "cut" as the bass' ability to cut through the mix, I would disagree with the above statement (i.e. "cut the mids when you boost the treble and bass") being the solution, sorry. The Mids is exactly what you want in order for the bass to "cut" through the mix. It's not always pleasent to the ears, but necessary in difficult venues.

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Am I reading or interpreting this correctly? If you are referring to "cut" as the bass' ability to cut through the mix, I would disagree with the above statement (i.e. "cut the mids when you boost the treble and bass") being the solution, sorry. The Mids is exactly what you want in order for the bass to "cut" through the mix. It's not always pleasent to the ears, but necessary in difficult venues.

Yes cut through the mix or rather to just "sit in" it better....
Like I said Ive only had the one Smith bass for a brief time, I did not really give it a chance and Im eager to get another one. But I did refer in my earlier post to looking for a "tighter" bridge type tone as well.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Am I reading or interpreting this correctly? If so and If you are referring to "cut" as the bass' ability to cut through the mix, I would disagree with the above statement (i.e. "cut the mids when you boost the treble and bass") being the solution, sorry. The Mids is exactly what you want in order for the bass to "cut" through the mix. It's not always pleasent to the ears, but necessary in difficult venues.

The Mids can wash out the penetration of the sound of the bass because when you boost treble the lower end of the boost is the high mids. When you boost the bass the upper end of the bass is the low mids. With the mids cut slightly, the bass and treble are tighter. Tighter sound cuts thru more than a 'mushy' everything boosted sound. This is my opinion. Take it of leave it. For me, the bass should sound like a bass. The mids help shape the bass and treble. Boosting the mids bleeds or blends the tones together but cutting them notches the sound. Try boosting the bass and treble all the way and then cut the mids all the way and see what I am talking about. This may not be the exact EQ you are looking for but you will see better what I am getting at.