Help! Guitar techs, help! Dissonance on a single string (JP6)

[Enc3f4L0]

Hey,

I'm having a little trouble with one of my JPs and thought I'd ask for help from the wealth of experience on this forum.

My Blue Dawn is presenting an issue with the "G" string. It actually is the "Eb" string in this case, since I have it tuned down to C-Standard.

It's been tuned to C since I got it, with a set of "Not Even Slinky's". I noticed this issue since then, but thought it was just the guitar adjusting itself to the new tuning/setup.

The problem is that on this string any note sounds like a slightly detuned pair of notes. This happens from open string to the 24th fret. Needless to say it sounds pretty ugly, like I'm tuning a string relative to an adjacent one but I'm quite not on pitch yet (fast dissonant ringing).

It's definitely not fret buzzing and I don't think it's a nut issue either. Has any one experienced this issue?
I'm thinking the problem is somewhere in the saddle/bridge but I haven't been able to figure it out for sure.

The other strings are perfectly fine, it's just this one string.

The guitar is a 2007 LE Blue Dawn + Piezo (with the D-Sonic pickup).

Let me know if you need any more info and I'll provide it.

Btw, I didn't contact customer service. I'm hoping this is an easy fix that can be pointed out to me by a fellow forumer.

Thanks.
Thiago.

 

[Fun111]

Have you tried changing the string?

If it has a kink in it would do this.

 

[Enc3f4L0]

This is actually the second set I put on, with the same issue.

Could I be this unlucky with the "Not Even Slinky's" box I bought?

I'll change them out again and see if it fixes itself.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I have no experience of this particular problem - and I don't know whether or not this will cure your issue?
I have done some work on my friends EB's and his guitars suffered a "pinging" noise behind the nut.
This was easily resolved by putting some graphite powder(scrapings from a pencil) into the nut slot. Try it - it'll take 5 minutes to do - and who knows? - let us know how you get on?

 

[Enc3f4L0]

Just changed out all the strings, and the problem persists.

Thanks Spudmurphy, I did try the graphite in the nut slot approach back when I first noticed this problem, to no success. Sorry, forgot to mention it on my original post.

I'm uploading a video of myself fooling around with this guitar so you all have a better idea of what I'm describing. Should be up in a few minutes...

 

[Enc3f4L0]

I probably should've let the notes ring out more to highlight the dissonances, but I think you can get an idea of what the problem is.

Note how when I play on the other strings the sound is steady/pleasant.

YouTube - Blue Dawn JP6 Issue - C-Standard - Eb string ("G" on E-standard) dissonance

 

[Enc3f4L0]

 

[guitfiddle]

My guess would be that you have your string too close to the pickup pole for the amount of tension you have in the detuned string. I don't have a JP yet (only of the only EBMMs I don't have!), but can you adjust the pickup height easily? If not, try raising that string a bit at the bridge saddle.

Does it happen no matter where you have the pickup selector switch?

 

[lumberjack]

Hey Thiago,

This might seem like a stretch but check to make sure the nut holding the tuner on the headstock for that string isn't loose. I usually check to make sure all of the tuner nuts are tightened up.

 

[Enc3f4L0]

My guess would be that you have your string too close to the pickup pole for the amount of tension you have in the detuned string. I don't have a JP yet (only of the only EBMMs I don't have!), but can you adjust the pickup height easily? If not, try raising that string a bit at the bridge saddle.

Does it happen no matter where you have the pickup selector switch?

Yes, it does happen with all pickup positions. In fact, it happens even unplugged, though it's much more audible through an amp, and even more so on the lead channel for obvious reasons.

The JP pickups have a fixed height anyway.

 

[guitfiddle]

OK. I would suggest then that you try a different gauge string in that position. Try putting a D string there for example. It may be you just have a string tension/gauge combination that is not going to work.

 

[Lou]

Check the saddle on that string. Make sure both height screws are in contact with the bridge plate. Check for any loose screws anywhere.

 

[DR5Guy]

OK. I would suggest then that you try a different gauge string in that position. Try putting a D string there for example. It may be you just have a string tension/gauge combination that is not going to work.

+1. You can also try to put regular string, tune to G and see if the problem still exists.

 

[beej]

I'd probably call/email CS and ask for advice. No worries if it's an easy thing, they'll have an answer for you quicker than posting here, and they're happy to help.

 

[Enc3f4L0]

Check the saddle on that string. Make sure both height screws are in contact with the bridge plate. Check for any loose screws anywhere.

I checked those screws. They look fine!

 

[Enc3f4L0]

Thank you for the responses so far guys!

I just sent an email to customer service. Let's hope they get back to me and I'm able to solve this before I have to use this guitar to track a song (in a few days).

 

[Dante]

try tuning one semitone flatter and see if it persists. imho, that string is simply like that because it's a very thick plain string. BP talked about this. it has to do with the length of the scale.

 

[Enc3f4L0]

try tuning one semitone flatter and see if it persists. imho, that string is simply like that because it's a very thick plain string. BP talked about this. it has to do with the length of the scale.

It does seem almost too thick for a plain string.
Do you have a link of where BP talked about it?

It feels like this string is having a hard time vibrating/sustaining, as if it's being damped by something immediately after the attack.

 

[Enc3f4L0]

The damping effect is really evident on the amp's clean channel.

All other strings decay a bit after the attack and sustain pretty much the same.

On this string the decay is much more drastic, and the sustain much shorter.

It's like the string is resting on a soft or moving edge which is preventing it from vibrating to it's full potential.

On the drive channel, this damping effect is not as evident, but then the dissonance really kicks in to unusable levels.

 

[Dante]

to be honest, i kind of accept it for what it is. i am considering moving to drop C/B tuning tho. i might get something with a longer scale to accommodate lower tunings. if you want to read more about the adventures ppl encounter with not-even-slinkies, give the string forum a reading, plenty of info there iirc.