G string slipping off Musicman SR5 fretboard

[remo]

just took delivery of my brand new SR5 bass (I’m a lucky boy)... I'm loving the tone but have noticed the G string sits precariously close to the bottom of the fret board (where the frets taper off).. I have once or twice made the G slip off the fret board which is annoying. I sighted the neck and it looks like the G slot in the nut could be a touch closer to the D string slot which would pull the G away from the edge. Has anyone else had this problem and how was it solved?

 

[Mobay45]

Hi Remo. Welcome to the board. I think if you will do a search, you will find that this has been discussed many times before. Mostly it's an issue of technique. If you pull down on the string when you fret it, it will slide off. As you get used to the bass you will find that you push straight down on the string or use a bit of upward pressure when fretting the G string.

 

[SteveB]

You may need to resort to the 'chiropractic' technique that someone recently discussed around here.

It involved loosening the neck screws and tugging the neck... i think the person who posted about it had to pull theirs upward (in the playing position), but it sounds like this situation calls for a tug toward the floor from the playing position.

But don't try this until someone with actual expertise weighs in on the subject. You don't want to cause further problems.

 

[Oldie but noobe]

I have the same issue. My nut on my SR5 is a little off. I did the chiropractic thing it helped. I am prety green at bass. Since I have been more careful with the technique it is happening less and less.

 

[stretch80]

I also have this problem with the G string, and even after a few months of playing, still have trouble with it esp when sliding notes.

But I love the bass otherwise, and want to solve it myself.

I missed the "chiropractic technique" idea, and will do a thread search to get more info on it. (When I posted about this, I everybody mainly hammered my technique ...wrongly, of course!

I have the most trouble with this around the 7-12th frets, so I'm not sure which way I'd want to nudge the neck. Advanced geometry. Any thoughts?

 

[cgworkman]

Due to the narrow neck, which I perfer, you have to adjust your technique a bit. It took me about 2 hours to become comfortable with mine.

Good luck

 

[stretch80]

I tried some searches but couldnt find the 'chiropractic' neck adjustment discussed. So it would be great if one of you who knows can weigh in...

 

[jongitarz]

Hold the bass as if you were gonna play with your teeth ala Jimi or Stevie. Pull the neck toward you. I hope that made sense.

 

[Oldie but noobe]

I was told to slightly loosen the neck bolts, hold the bass in the playing position, and pull the neck up towards me. It did not move much but it helped a little.

I agree it doesn't make you feel good to have someone say it's your technique 1st off even if it was parcially true. Kinda like guitly wihtout a trail

 

[stretch80]

Jon, your Hendrix approach does mean pulling the neck "UP" (away from knobs), right?

 

[bovinehost]

it doesn't make you feel good to have someone say it's your technique

I agree - BUT. When I first started playing SR5s, I would occasionally find the G string sliding off the board. I didn't adjust the neck - I adjusted my approach just a bit, and although I've had the same SR5 for over five years, the G string hasn't slipped off in.....well, almost five years.

So I think it can be solved by adjustment - just depends on what you want to adjust.

And by the way, my technique does suck. Always has.

 

[jongitarz]

Jon, your Hendrix approach does mean pulling the neck "UP" (away from knobs), right?

yes sir. hold the body by the input jack, grab the neck and pull

 

[cgworkman]

I was told to slightly loosen the neck bolts, hold the bass in the playing position, and pull the neck up towards me. It did not move much but it helped a little.

I agree it doesn't make you feel good to have someone say it's your technique 1st off even if it was parcially true. Kinda like guitly wihtout a trail

I wouldn't wrench the neck any direction. But that's me.

As far as you not liking us saying "adjust your technique..." Well, everyone here is stating they ALREADY have adjusted their technique. It's not a slam or an insult.

Most fivers don't have the narrower neck like a SR5. It does take some getting used to. Notice I said "some."

 

[stretch80]

i wasn't meaning to whine about the technique comments...

it's my right hand technique that tends to suck the most.

...but I've been trying to fix the technique, and still having trouble, and I've notices when I've picked up other SR5s, they are not as bad.

So it may be a subtle thing where the string is close enough that subtle differences among SR5s may make a big difference.

I have noticed that EB fixed this on the Bongos! I stopped by GC and played bongo 5s for an hour last week. Nice! Esp. with the piezo!

But I just bought my SR5 3 months ago.... and it's definitely got it going on.

 

[Oldie but noobe]

i wasn't meaning to whine about the technique comments...

Sure you want some cheese with that

I was whining it's one thing to have a shi**y technique and be able to play, but to be like me and have the same technique and just starting out It seems hopeless

 

[remo]

thanks for the welcome!

so no one has had a new nut cut? Looking at mine there is definitly room to take the G string closer to the D string which I think would solve the problem. I've emailed ernie ball for a new BLANK nut so I hope they can supply me with one. If anyone reading thias can get one for me please pm me.

I must say I'm dissapointed this problem is so documented yet EB have not offered a solution to people who suffer from it. I also posted about it on another Bass forum and quite a few people ended up selling their SR's because they just couldn't play them... thats really bad.

here are some pics, as you can see looking down the next there is a nice amount of room for the low B but the G is perched right on the edge.. There is definitly enough room to move the G away from the edge a bit.

 

[cgworkman]

REMO: I must say I'm dissapointed this problem is so documented yet EB have not offered a solution to people who suffer from it. I also posted about it on another Bass forum and quite a few people ended up selling their SR's because they just couldn't play them... thats really bad.

Having owned several, and played ten times that, I'd have to say IMO that's bull$hit.

If it's that big of a problem it would have been taken care of. As far as, EB ignoring it, companies are here to make money. If it was such a big deal it would be impacting their bottom line. It isn't.

 

[Oldie but noobe]

That is a carbon copy of mine.

The tech at a local shop said it would not be worth the money to change it

I am still debating But I love my SR5 anyway and I have been getting better at keeping the G on the board

 

[bovinehost]

Plenty of Stingray 5 players out there, and they're all built the same way by the same guys in the same factory.

I think the G string IS close to the edge of the board, but as has been said about forty times, a little work on technique and bam, you're cooking with gas.

BTW, all due respect to my fellow TBers, but this is not TalkBass.

Also...I'm looking at those photos, and I see about the same amount of space between the G string and the edge of the board as I do between the B string and the edge of the board.

And I just checked Heinz and it looks about the same.

I'm not saying you're not having an issue - I'm saying the issue is that you're pulling DOWN on the G string. It's a bit harder to push UP on the B string, so you don't notice it.

Anyway, that's my take on it.

 

[remo]

Also...I'm looking at those photos, and I see about the same amount of space between the G string and the edge of the board as I do between the B string and the edge of the board.

I think what you might be seeing is the shadow of the B, when I look at it there is clearly more room on the B side. Anyhow, I should stop crapping on about it and get a new nut! Thanks for your opinions dudes!