SR5HH Loses its BOOM on B string, Help

[jar546]

I was just screwin around this morning with my rig trying to fine tune adjustments (SR5HH into DBX160A into LMII into Eden D410XLT) and noticed that as I worked my way up the neck on my B string, I lost my low end BOOM starting at the D#, then completely gone at the C# and C.

I am using brand new EB flats for the SR5. When the boom is gone, it is a very empty sound with no balls at all, not even a growl.

BTW, it is set up perfectly per EB specs for string height, pickup height and my intonation is right on.

Thoughts?

 

[Hellboy]

Is this happening on the B-string only?? Have you put new strings on very recently? It happens that certain strings are bad from the factory. Faulty.... That can create some strange sounds.....

Try with a new B-string and see if it´s the same...

That is the first thing I should try if I where you.

Sincerely//Jan

 

[mynan]

I'm confused... When you say "up the neck", does that mean toward the nut? I'm assuming that because you said your problem starts at D#...going towards C# and C. If we're talking about the 4th-fret D# through the 1st-fret C, then I would say your 410 isn't going to handle it and lose some "boom". For "boom" on those low notes, you want at least a 115 or 118.

 

[jar546]

Thanks for the input so far, I am really not too sure it is a 410 issue vs a 115 118. The Eden can pretty much handle anything.

I am leaning toward the strings but maybe there is something I am missing here, that is why I am posting. Keep the opinions coming.

 

[jaylegroove]

I also think it's the string. From what I could hear playing through misc. Eden rigs, Eden 410 cabs can handle any low B with authority.

 

[Big Poppa]

this is a customer service thread...realize you are being diagnosed without the person seeing the bass....Im glad this isnt a mens health forum!

 

[Ole Man Blues]

this is a customer service thread...realize you are being diagnosed without the person seeing the bass....Im glad this isnt a mens health forum!

+1

OMB

 

[jar546]

I am a little disapointed with the last two responses. I am asking a simple question to see if anyone else has or had this problem or if someone out there knows what might be happening. Maybe this is common, maybe it is not but a forum is a great place to ask simple questions like this.

A forum is an extension of an business and customer service. It would be easier for me to get some guidance from someone who had a similar issue rather than pack up all of my gear and head out to a local shop just to get an opinion.

I really thought this was one of the points of a forum,........to share and communicate with peers. Sorry.

 

[bovinehost]

First, it's not common. First time I've seen a post about such a thing.

Second, and this is really just repetition at this point, it's just damned near impossible to diagnose a problem - especially an unusual problem - without being able to see and play the instrument.

No one's trying to gaff you off or shut you down, but it's just random guesses about what might be going on.

Thus the men's health comment from BP.

Q: "My head hurts. What could it be?"

A: "Oh, it's probably a brain tumor."

B: "Is there a sharp object sticking into it?"

C: "No, I think "A" is right, it must be a tumor."

Then the original poster comes back and says he fell off the roof, landed on his head, forgot to mention that.

So the upshot is that since it isn't a "known" issue, you're getting what we in the military used to call "SWAGs" (scientific wild-ass guesses).

Make sense?

 

[mynan]

If it's not a string issue, I still think your amp/cab setup may have something to do with it.

That cab is rated at 700W RMS with a low-frequency response of 50Hz. Your LMII only puts out 300W@8ohms/500W@4ohms. Not that the cab can't produce anything below 50Hz, but a low E is around 40Hz and a low B is around 30Hz. So unless your cab is wired for 4ohms, you are seriously under-powering it and expecting BOOM from frequencies below what it is rated for.

 

[Ken Baker]

Let's see if I can make anyone grit their teeth in an analytical way.

... I lost my low end BOOM starting at the D#, then completely gone at the C# and C.

Can I safely assume that all things relative to your rig have remained the same as previously? Gain? EQ? Master? How about anything in your effects loop?

I am using brand new EB flats for the SR5. When the boom is gone, it is a very empty sound with no balls at all, not even a growl.

Okay, let start off by examining what has changed.

Based on your statements, it appears that your strings have changed.

Did you think to retain the old ones? If so, why not put the old B string back on and compare? Results here will tell you whether or not you have a DOA B string.

Perhaps try de-tuning your E string to get into the range where the BOOM has departed. If the BOOM departs at the same point, the strings are likely OK and the problem is elsewhere.

-------------------------

Now let's look at what might have changed.

Are the settings on the DBX160A the same as previously? Remember that compressors can be a tone suck if set too "high". A return to normal or previous settings will tell you what's going on here.

As a test, have you bypassed the DBX160A by completely removing it from the signal path? This will definitely give you an answer, I should think.

Again, look for changes on the LMII and return anything that may have been changed back to normal. Sounds over-simplistic, but worth examination and may be the fix.

When did you last replace the battery in your SR5? Remember that leaving the cable plugged into the bass will use the battery even if you're not playing. This could be an easy fix.

=====================

Added later:

You didn't say what strings the EB Flats were replacing. It is my experience that different string brands/types/alloys can make a huge difference. I'm not familiar with EB Flats (sorry, BP), but it could be that you went to them from a string type that has better magnetic properties - meaning louder strings.

As good as the Eden cab is, there is always a possibility that it might not be happy at the moment. Could be any number of reasons, from room to weather to creased cones, that might vary how it handles the deep low end. So if you have a headphone amp, give it and a good set of earphones a try. If you regularly use a headphone amp, you should be able to get a good feel for what's going on.

=====================

My recommendation is to run through this stuff and make paper notes as you go. If you find the problem, then it's either fixed or you know how to fix it on your own. If, after going through all this, the problem remains; call customer service with your notes in hand. The notes will help you and CS find the problem.

Ken...

 

[carpedebass]

What the above said...and put in a fresh battery...just to rule it out!

 

[Ken Baker]

What the above said...and put in a fresh battery...just to rule it out!

Yes. And make it a Duracell; not a rechargeable.

Ken...

 

[jar546]

Thank you Ken for your well thought out and constructive reply. I will be doing all of that tomorrow.

Jeff

 

[tkarter]

Are you sure the B string is fitting in the nut?

tk

 

[Ken Baker]

Thank you Ken for your well thought out and constructive reply. I will be doing all of that tomorrow.

Jeff

Thank you.

Please let us know how it goes.

Ken...

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Jar...

First off I think I understand customer service. But one can always use a refresher. If you feel better getting advice on a technical matter fine. Realize that you dont know who is answering and they havent seen your bass.

Please read my signature.....there are great reasons for them...the first is that making myself available and being upfront and open people deluge me with private messages...the second is advising members to contact customer service before posting possible issues. The reason for this is that the customer service bay is full of botched DIY solutions to what should have been easy solutions. Well meaning people giving advice freely without any baseline information.

So I will remind you and hopefully you understand that when I say Im glad this isnt a mens health forum you will understand that it is a joke. (I still get to joke around) but in the joke it really illustrates that this is your bass and hopefully your pride and joy....let us take care of it and save the posts for exchanges that wont affect your bass in a potentially negative way.

 

[jar546]

If it's not a string issue, I still think your amp/cab setup may have something to do with it.

That cab is rated at 700W RMS with a low-frequency response of 50Hz. Your LMII only puts out 300W@8ohms/500W@4ohms. Not that the cab can't produce anything below 50Hz, but a low E is around 40Hz and a low B is around 30Hz. So unless your cab is wired for 4ohms, you are seriously under-powering it and expecting BOOM from frequencies below what it is rated for.

Thank you. This make sense and I was trying to compensate this with the compressor. I have had 2 long days and my neighbors are not home so I will have to work on this tomorrow.