Sustain on EBMM Stingray classic 4

[Outsider]

Hi

I recently got a StingRay Classic4 and I seem to be having sustain troubles on the E string.
How is the sustain on this bass? Anything I can look out for?
Should I record it to demo the problem?
Thanks

 

[rutgart]

Hey Outsider,
Is this a new Bass or second hand?
If the lack of sustain is all over the E string see blow.

The first place to start in my opinion is. Do you have another E String you can try? A string with a broken wind inside is common cause of 1 string be low in sustain as it absorbs the vibration.

Second in my thoughts is the Saddle under your E string. check that both the feet are firmly touching the bridge plate.

If the lack of Sustain is only happening when your playing the string open (with no finger on the string = E) then I'd look at the Nut as your E string maybe vibrating there.

Outsiders, I hope this info helps. I love Cape Town as I've tour there many times with Bjorn Again.

 

[Outsider]

Hi

This is a new bass.
Thanks for the advice. I checked the bridge, the saddle looks fine.
The lack of sustain seems to be more apparent the higher I go up the neck (ie, the 12th fret has less sustain then the 1st fret).

Glad you like Cape Town! I love living here, except for the high cost of bass guitars

 

[Aussie Mark]

Hi

This is a new bass.
Thanks for the advice. I checked the bridge, the saddle looks fine.
The lack of sustain seems to be more apparent the higher I go up the neck (ie, the 12th fret has less sustain then the 1st fret).

Try replacing the E string, as was already suggested.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Have you tried lowering the string mute on the bridge?

 

[Outsider]

I'll change the string and see if that helps.

Yes, the string mute is out of the way

 

[pete1000]

Some laws of physics kick in when you ask a fat string to vibrate over a short fretted length, and these laws do not want to work in your favour. It is not un-common for the E not to have a lot of sustain the further up the neck you go. Perhaps a new string, and staying back down the business end of the neck, and you'll be firing on all cylinders again!

 

[Outsider]

I compared playing that high up on a fender jazz and a fender p. both have waaaay more sustain then the ray. I'm also guessing that the pickup contributes to this.
I'll see if I can get strings asap and let you all know how that goes.

 

[jelwood]

The dampening factor introduced by the magnets acting on the string should be very very small unless you have your pickup insanely close to the string. Wouldn't go blaming the pickup as there are plenty of rays with amazing sustain that in fact all have...the same pickup! Did you change the string yet?

 

[drTStingray]

Outsider - the E string (indeed all strings) on my Classic have more sustain than any other bass I have, as have all others I've tried - so much so that it requires significant care muting to stop them ringing - several people who have used it in jam sessions have been v surprised by this.

I am guessing you have a duff string as these basses are generally v consistent in that they are ash bodied, and have either birds eye or flamed (or both in my case) necks. The other potential issue as also stated previously is the pick up adjustment (see FAQs for advice on how to set the levels).

 

[MK Bass Weed]

The dampening factor introduced by the magnets acting on the string should be very very small unless you have your pickup insanely close to the string.

That would be guess number 2 for me...String would be number one. The magnet would NOT have to be insanely close to effect the string in terms of pull...so double check that it's up to Spek!

 

[Elad_E]

how low are the bridge saddles set?
sometimes people try to adjust the action at the bridge (instead of adjusting the truss and/or shimming when appropriate) and the breaking angle of the strings is not sharp enough which means the saddle is not functioning as the end point of the vibrating portion of the string anymore which introduces intonation problems, loss of articulation and reduced sustain.

if the breaking angle at the bridge is alright I'd try changing strings. I've had some weird sound and playability problems caused by bad or worn out strings which a new set immediately remedied.

 

[Outsider]

I know its been a while...
I've got new strings in hand, I'll put them on tonight and let you know if the sustain problem is still there.

 

[JayDawg]

Try some Ernie Ball Cobalt's on the bass and see if that doesn't help! I have a Stingray Classic 4 and love it. It is a great bass but I have noticed that on it and other Classic's, the output is not as hot as my other basses are but they may be due to the type of pickup in the bass combined with the 2 band eq. That may also be what is contributing to your E not having as much sustain. The cobalt strings though apparently help that issue a lot. Probably on my next trip to Guitar Center, I am going to pick some up for my Classic and a few other basses.

 

[MrMusashi]

That would be guess number 2 for me...String would be number one. The magnet would NOT have to be insanely close to effect the string in terms of pull...so double check that it's up to Spek!

magnets too close to the string will pull on it. your intonation will be off and the sustain will suffer..
what i think is close and what you think is close might be different things, so do as mk bass weed suggested and check that the bass is set up to factory specifications.
you can find them here:
Could you tell me Music Man's StingRay factory settings for relief, string height, and pickup height?

if none of this helps the customer service department are the guys to talk to.. details in my signature

hth!

MrM