We have a Music Man Sterling 4-string bass that has been an outstanding instrument here in our church for a number of years. However, in the past few weeks it has developed an annoying problem. At certain times it is much louder on specific notes-particularly the C note on the A string and C note on the E string. We have changed the strings and the 9V battery to no avail. Any suggestions to this non-bass playing guy would be most appreciated!
Help! Music Man bass problem
- Thread starter YHWH-Jeff
- Start date
jlepre
Well-known member
I would bring it in for a proper setup. JMHO
Rod Trussbroken
Moderator
Perhaps an acoustic problem. Any changes in the surroundings at the certain times when this happens?
sanderhermans
Well-known member
I would have sugested a new batery but since you have don this. My best gues for a specific note dying out is that this note was used alot more than others and mayebe the fret has worn down a bit making the string die out on the next fret wich is still higher. But i couldnt be sure of this from the explanation you gave. A good setup might be the best thing to start with. Check your neck relief for sure. If that doesnt work out, i would take it to a good luthier...
stu42
Well-known member
From the description I would also guess that you may have an acoustics issue in your environment. It sounds like you're describing a problem with a resonant frequency as I'm guessing that you're talking about the note on the E-string, 9th fret and A-string, 3rd fret - which is the same note, same frequency.
Maybe somebody made some changes to your amp, or where the speaker sits relative to the walls around it, or to the mixing board or P.A. speakers and now you're getting some extra resonance when playing that particular note.
Hard to tell from here but that's my first thought.
Maybe somebody made some changes to your amp, or where the speaker sits relative to the walls around it, or to the mixing board or P.A. speakers and now you're getting some extra resonance when playing that particular note.
Hard to tell from here but that's my first thought.
Maybe it just needs new strings. Or maybe it has new
strings but they are not breaking-in well or evenly.
As for the remarks about the acoustical environment,
and maybe taking it to a good luthier, good ideas but
the 1st place to take it can be to a different acoustical
environment to check out the environment theory.
strings but they are not breaking-in well or evenly.
As for the remarks about the acoustical environment,
and maybe taking it to a good luthier, good ideas but
the 1st place to take it can be to a different acoustical
environment to check out the environment theory.
Last edited:
ksandvik
Well-known member
I once had a very similar problem on any guitar going through a specific amp, some tones had a strange boost, some other specific tones were damped -- one of the pre-amp tubes was bad. Strange problem but it was isolated with A/B testing.
JayDawg
Well-known member
Check the string height on the A and E strings. It is possible that whoever strung the bass last wound the strings on the pegs slightly different and they are now sitting just slightly closer to the pickup polls.
steve4765630
Active member
- Joined
- May 25, 2015
- Messages
- 25
I would set the EQ flat on the bass and on the sound board. Start there.
