I can't hear my G string.

[ebass4life]

Hi everyone. I hope someone can help me. I bought a musicsting ray bass almost a year ago. I love the way it sounds and especially the way it feels. I have one big problem with it though. My G string doesn't cut though the mix. When playing by myself, it's fine. But when I'm playing with the band, it's like I'm not even playing. All the other strings are fine. I tried jaking the pick-up under the G string but that didn't help. My other bass has no problems so I don't think it's the way my amp is EQ'd. I'm thinking of trying differnt pick-ups. Any suggestions?

 

[mynan]

I can't hear your G-string either...there must be a problem.

Change your strings.

Check to make sure your pickups are set up to factory specs. Here's a link.
Ernie Ball Music Man Bass F.A.Q.

 

[strummer]

Hi
I don't know if your other bass is an EBMM, but if not I would strongly suggest ditching all your amp eq settings and start from scratch. A lot of us here run our amps more or less flat
And if your other bass is an EBMM, do what Mynan suggests!

good luck

 

[the unrepentant]

Can you hear it when you play it acoustically?

 

[ebass4life]

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunetely, I've tried them all. I've changed the strings many times. I had it sent out and they said there is nothing wrong. I've set my EQ to flat. I've even tried differnt combo's of heads and cabinets.

You can hear it fine accoustically. When i play through the amp (by myself) it seems a little quiet but you can still hear it. It's only when playing with the band that it becomes a problem. It just doen't cut through like I need it to.

I thought maybe it's just in my head. But my bandmates agree. Plus, at a recent show, someone from the crowd came to talk to me about the bass and said he has the same bass and has the same problem.

Again, thanks for the suggestions. I really appreciate them.

 

[Retrovertigo]

Here's what worked for me:
Go back to the factory recommended pickup and relief settings.
Use a thicker gauge G string (50 if you're using a 45)
Raise the string saddle a bit.

Hope that helps.

Edit: Also, really pay attention to you're technique. Make sure you are not consistently playing your lower strings harder than your G, as this can make you precise the volume as being too low. I don't mean to insinuate that you have bad technique, it's just something I've seen/heard happen.

Try playing the same notes from your G string in the upper range of the lower strings. Those notes will have a fuller sound to them no matter what bass you're playing.

 

[the unrepentant]

If i'm honest i've found that most G strings don't cut through as well as the rest on any bass. can you readjust your technique to pluck the G string harder? You could try boosting the treble or the high mids on your amp a bit more than you usually would.

 

[ebass4life]

Agian, I really appreciate the responses. Here is what I don't understand. My other bass is an American Fender Jazz. I had the the same problem with this one at first. But it was an easy fix. All I did was raise the pick-up under the G string. Problem solved.

I have the pick-up raised on the Music-man so high it almost touches the string. But it doesn't make any difference. I realize they are totally different basses. But isn't it the same principle?

 

[bovinehost]

I have the pick-up raised on the Music-man so high it almost touches the string.

Keep in mind that there are powerful magnets in the pickup. If the string is too close, the magnets can affect string excursion, stopping it prematurely and making it sound like....well, like what you're talking about.

Adjusting the pickup is like equalization - try subtraction first.

 

[the unrepentant]

Yeah, if anything that will stop it vibrating, change it back to the factory height.

 

[adouglas]

+1 on pickup height, but I'd go one further.

Get some valid baseline data. Put a fresh set of the same strings the factory uses on the bass, and set it up per factory spec.

Then you'll know how it sounded when it left the factory.

Different strings, different pickup height, different setup... all are variables that you need to eliminate before you go doing something as drastic as changing pickups.

 

[rezin]

i have the same problem on my passive sub, except that it just started when i changed strings. the E, A, and D still sound fine but now the G is much quieter. the only change was the string so i tend to think there might be a problem with that. can you get a dead flatwound out of the package? i haven't heard of that happening before

 

[Spot]

Starting with a good setting and a good amp/cab, (the factory setting is really good) if you want your g-string to cut trough a mix you'll have to boost the mid a bit.

Also, if you have to set your amp to 10 to hear yourself in a band, you will have a hard time to hear the higher notes and to have a good sound, the best his to have a more powerful amp and set you volume enough high so you can play softer, this way you will have all the dynamic you need and your sound will be better.

my 0.02

 

[ggunn]

...can you get a dead flatwound out of the package?

How can you tell? ;^)

 

[five7]

Have another bass player play it on stage and go out front with the soundman and have a listen. If you have changed strings, adjusted the pickup height to factory specs, flattened your amp settings, and said a couple of prayers and you still can't hear your g string on the musicman, you have three choices. Install a new pickup and maybe pots, say "screw it" and sell the bass, or the next time it happens at an important gig, throw a tantrum and throw it at your amp. That could adjust it's attitude and put some excitement into your bands performance.

 

[bradfordws]

This is the old "dead spot" problem and it happens to the best of the basses out there, unless it's a graphite neck or a neck-through. I had the same problem with a 1996 Stingray 4. I even went as far as changing out the pickup - I think it was a Seymour Duncan - no good. Tried different strings - no good. I bought the bass new from GC and unfortunately, I was past the 30-day return policy (I think they had that policy in 1996). I ended up selling the bass. The best way to avoid this is to try out a few basses at the dealer. I haven't had this problem in a long time. I bought a new Sterling 4 a couple years ago and it sounds great. I bought three Sterling 5's last year - each one special ordered, so I couldn't try it out and then decide of course, but no problems at all. I don't think this is an issue with the 5's. Maybe the 5 string neck being a little bigger makes a difference? Anyway, you know how it goes - you try out several basses at the store and one always stands out as the one you want to get, no matter how consistent EB/MM's are - and they are very consistently good - I mean great!

 

[oli@bass]

This is the old "dead spot" problem

Sorry, but there is no such thing as a "dead spot" over the whole fretboard (i.e. the whole string). Low output on the G string and dead spots are two completely different things, though both could happen on the same instrument.

The G string naturally produces less volume / output. Changing the distance from the strings to the pole pieces will greatly affect the output volume. Check if the G string has more action than the E string, if yes try lowering the saddle of the G string. If you're not confident with doing setups on your bass, take it to a good technician or luthier.

unless it's a graphite neck

Not true again. I had a very nice 2001 NAMM SR4 with a graphite neck made by Status, that had a slight but noticable dead spot at a very common place: 7th fret on the G string.

 

[HumanPye]

Concerned about this

Hi everyone, after Idolising Stingrays for years I am finally about to buy one, but I have heard of this G-string problem (it's even on the stingray wikipedia entry!), and to be honest I'm concerned.

Is ebass4life the only member to experience this problem?

Can any HS players tell me if this problem is eased by the jazz pickup (or HH players for that matter)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[CFA]

I just got a Stingray 4 new before Christmas. I don't notice any volume loss around the G-string. I also tried a HH in the store and I don't remember there being any volume loss at all.

Not saying it doesn't happen, Just that I haven't experienced... and it was said before it can be fixed by raising the Humbucker a little towards the G string.

 

[davey]

i have a beautiful autumnburst sparkle 4string stingray, fretless, and i have a really bad 'quiet g'. it is worse with certain brands of strings, but it's definitely the bass and not the setup. i have two fives, and another 'darth vader' limited edition 4 string, and they are fine. i loves my basses, but have always had that problem with the sparkle.

davey