e string

[tom_683]

the e string on my stingray sounds doesnt have as much sustain as the other strings the whole way up the fret board. it is not a major differenc e but is noticable is it normal for this to happen or is there some sort of problem\
thanks
tom

 

[The Big BassMan]

maybe your e string is too close the fret board. This will obviously create fret buzz and damage sustain.try raising the string at the bridge. I dont know if there could be something else causing the problem.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Maybe a dud E string!!??? especially if it's all up the neck.

 

[bovinehost]

Rod's right. Check the obvious things first. Sounds like a dead string to me. Happens sometimes.

 

[The Big BassMan]

good bloody point forgot about that its easy to overlook the obvious things.

 

[tom_683]

nope new string on it an there aint no fret buzz.
i asked someone and they say it is cos the e string is thickeer than the rest it doesnt have quite the same ring to it. i dont know if anyones herd that before?
it isnt a huge loss of sustain just small so maybe that is the answer
cheers

 

[Psychicpet]

One quick thing, have you adjusted the height of the pick-up on the E string side at all in the past? If you've lowered the pick-up that would affect the output and tone of the string... other than that I would A/B it next to another bass to get an idea if there actually is something radically different or if it's just a "perceived" difference in sound. Obviously try to get a hold of another StingRay so that the comparison has some control to it.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>>>it is cos the e string is thickeer than the rest it doesnt have quite the same ring to it. i dont know if anyones herd that before?

New one on me! In fact, it's nonsense.

From my experience, it could still be a dud string even though it's new. I don't know what strings you have but, if you haven't done so already, go out and invest in a quality set.

Is the string fully seated in the nut groove?

You've wound the string correctly on the tuner to give enough down pressure over the nut?

Pickup to close to string?....magnet affecting vibration.

Cheers.

 

[tom_683]

thanks ill try that an get back to u

 

[tom_683]

the e-string sounds fine when played open then most of the way down the neck it does not have as much sustain. i also noticed that the 7th and 8th fret on the g-string sounds quite dead.
could the neck be dodgy?

 

[bovinehost]

The neck is (probably) not dodgy. It sounds to me like you need a setup, nothing more (unless that E string came dead from the factory - which happens now and then).

If you aren't secure in your knowledge of such things, take it to a reputable luthier for a setup and make him explain what he's doing and why. You might just need a bit more relief in your neck.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>i also noticed that the 7th and 8th fret on the g-string sounds quite dead.

Sounds like the proverbial deadspot disease....evey Bass I've owned has suffered. On some Basses the prob is more pronounced. Here's an explaination of what's going on:

http://www.acoustics.org/press/137th/fleischer.html

To me, (and I assume the same to be the case with others) the situation is no big deal....on the G string, in that position, I use the notes mainly as passing notes. It could be the string but I strongly suspect dead spots. The prob is less noticable as you increase your treble range and/or play with a pic.

>>>the e-string sounds fine when played open then most of the way down the neck it does not have as much sustain

If the string is ok played open, then I suspect your E string is set too low. For some players a situation arises where, eventhough the string is not low enough to cause fret buzz, it can be set at a point just short of this, causing the string to be deadened by its lightly touching an adjacent fret/s. String vibration is eliptical and will vibrate up and down, aswell as sideways. Some players experience it and others don't. It can display itself, not only as a deadness but a complaint by some that their Bass loses tone when the strings are set too low. Alas, I'm one of those. When I raised the issue with a luthier, the above explanation was given.

Ditto what bovinehost has just said above