Perhaps a stupid question

[Bubba Love]

As you may or may not remember, I got a Bongo 4 the other week. Excellent.

Soon after I got it home, I noticed something happening with the G string when it was played open. It kinda rang out, I can't really explain it, but my girlfriend asked me why it was 'singing' so I guess that's the best word for it. It seemed that something might be vibrating in the nut or the headstock that was affecting the G string. Anyway, I paid it no mind because the problem dissapeared when I played the string on any fret, and I hardly ever find myself playing an open G for some reason.

Now, I changed my strings the other day to a new set of Super Slinkys, and the problem seems to have transferred itself to the open E string, which is much more of a worry. Does anyone know what this problem is? It sounds like the string is ok, but there's another sound in there that shouldn't be. If I had to spell it, I'd say it sounds like "baaaauuuuuww", on a higher frequency to the actual note being played.

Any suggestions? I've got a university audition on wednesday, and I'd love to shake it off by then. Thanks!

 

[shaver]

do u hear it when its not pluged it, maybe its a speaker problem...

it sounds like extreme overtones hah

 

[skabassist13]

turn your gain down?

 

[Bubba Love]

No, it's nothing to do with my amplifier, as I can hear it when I play unplugged.

Which reminds me, if I managed to lose my warranty card before I posted it, is there a place I can fill one out online? I remember seeing somewhere I think.

 

[FireAarro]

Is it a mwah sort of sound?

 

[LowDownDave]

I don't think it's a stupid question! I believe my Stingray4 does the exact same thing when I play the open E string. I only notice it when I am messing about amp-less, and because the sound vibration doesn't transfer through my amp I just basically ignore it during regular playing. But it is one of those things I'd love to get rid of if someone knew how. It is just like an extra vibration that comes directly after the string sound vibration, and I've looked everywhere on the bass to find out where it may be coming from but with no luck. It does sound like the string itself may be making the sound, and yet seeing as the vibration isn't 'picked-up' by the pickups, I just can't figure it out. Any help would be appreciated

 

[LowDownDave]

P.S. It MIGHT be a 'mwah' sort of sound. It's a bit hard to describe, but if it is "mwah-like" then perhaps you have a solution FireAarro?

 

[Psychicpet]

How many wraps is your E string around the post?? Is the string angle across the nut good?
Sometimes if you don't get enough wraps or if the string is coming off the nut too flat and not really "breaking" over the nut strange things can start to happen and the truss rod , etc. start giving off some vibrations and grief... just a thought.

pd

 

[mike not fat]

I had that kind of problem with my Bongo ; as I played an open A string with a pick, it had some vibration and buzzing on the nut that keeps it down on the headstock.

Tahnks to Bov's advice, I checked the way the string was warped around the pot and that solved the problem.

As your prob' as changed (going from G to E) after a string change, it could be in relation with that to. With the search function, you should find out some threads where we speak about clean string installation. Chek it out and let us know.

MNF

 

[Samingo]

Also, because you asked, you can register online at musicman.com. Just go to the ernie ball site you use to get to this forum and click on the music man link, there you'll find the "Register a product" or something like that. Enjoy and good luck.

 

[bovinehost]

Yup, the string wrap around the post and the break angle over the nut would be my first suspect - and, luckily, an easy fix.

Check it and let us know.

 

[Bubba Love]

God I love this forum. It means I don't have to think for myself

Yes, it would appear the winding is the problem. I've only got about 1.5 wounds on the E and G strings where the problems are, and the unaffected A and D strings have 2 or more. That's a rookie mistake if ever I saw one, I really don't deserve this bass!

Thank you everyone who posted, I love you one and all.