Thumb NT 5 lacking some high end sweetness

Lucy Monostone

Lucy Monostone

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Hey all, I've found that my '95 Thumb NT 5 is just lacking in tone and, too a lesser extent, volume when I play on the higher strings using either fingers or a pick. I've taken it to a shop and it's been, allegedly, correctly set up for the string gauge/tuning I use but it still doesn't sound "right".

G# C# G# C# F# on DR DDT5 strings 135-55

I've experimented with the on board eq and tried running it flat whilst adjusting my amps eq and no matter what variation/combination I try the high end just sounds really thin and flat.

I run my Thumb into a DBX 160a compressor -> GK 1001 RBii head -> SWR Henry 8x8

Could it be an issue with the bridge saddles being set too high, the pickups sunken too deep into the body or just the pickups them selves are faulty? Or has any other Thumb owners experienced this? Any (valid) opinion would be greatly appreciated!
 
What about your compressor?
Turn it off or adjusting settings on that doesn't help?
 
these guys are right, get your pups up- that is a common tone sucker. and try it without the comp. they can be tricky things to get right and can take some of the more subtle tone out of your sound if they aren't set just right.

and to get myself promoted from captain obvious to commodore blatant: does it have new strings and a new battery?
 
In my opinion your problem is too thick strings. The thicker the strings get, the more rigid they are. And it's tougher for them to do the fine oscillations needed for higher frequencies. Have a look at the following pic. When a string is plucked, it does all these motions (harmonics) simultaneously, but the higher ones don't happen as easily with thick strings.

512px-Moodswingerscale.svg.png
 
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+1 on jester. With strings that thick +downtuned, you are bound to lose some treble.
 
Hi Lucy, and welcome to the forum.

My forum friends gave you very good advices, I have one more :-)

The thumb is an instrument with a very specific sound. Both of the pickups are placed in the bridge position. As a result, the sound lacks really deep lows, but it is very strong in low mids.

Many people (probably you too) want to get a more "common" sound from the thumb, and boost the lows from the amp or onboard EQ. Well, if you boost the lows too much, one side effect is as you describe - that EQ setting favorize the lower strings, and make the higher strings to sound thinner.

A thumb bass really sounds best with a flat EQ on bass and amp too... But you need some time to learn to live with that sound, haha!

I hope it helps :-)
 
^I agree. Although my thumb is a BO 5, it is very similar and I can tell you that it's pretty much a one trick pony. But it is a sound that ONLY the thumb can get, and it's the sound I love.
 
I found the thumb NT 5 to be a very versatile beast. Very responsive to the right hand technique too...
 
jester said:
In my opinion your problem is too thick strings. The thicker the strings get, the more rigid they are. And it's tougher for them to do the fine oscillations needed for higher frequencies. Have a look at the following pic. When a string is plucked, it does all these motions (harmonics) simultaneously, but the higher ones don't happen as easily with thick strings.

512px-Moodswingerscale.svg.png
Click to expand...

Not exactly, I think... It affects ALL the oscillations... And there are several other factors affecting the string, like the material, core, windings...

More here on strings :

https://www.speech.kth.se/music/acviguit4/part4.pdf
 
Hey guys and cheers for the info! I had already taken the comp out of the chain and set my amp's eq flat, then I raised the rear most pup and it made a world of difference! :)

@Augie You nailed it dude, thanks! P.S. Fresh battery and strings man :P

@Jester I thought that mite be a factor so I'm currently waiting on a thinner set of Ernie Ball's to arrive, tho I imagine I'll still need a 130 for the low G#, thanks!

@Florin I went for the Thumb specifically because I love it's inherent tone, I think it sounds amazing! I wanted something with a bit more mid range bite rather than, as you said, a common sound. Which is even more why I was disappointed and confused but the lack in tone after getting it "professionally" set up. On the on-board eq I'll either run it flat or boost the mids slightly but that's it. Again as you said, it is a versitile creature but I just want that distinctive Thumb sound in a lower tuning. Thanks for your advice!
 
lucy fresh strings make a huge differance to the thumb sound.and even go as far to say i much prefare 40s over 45s .lighter strings just sound that bit brighter.i like a bright sound but thats just me,each to their own.glad you got sorted.
 
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