The missing "G"

[russjm]

One of my friends has bought a 2 band ray, second hand, but relatively new I think. He's had one before, but was put off the first one because while playing live, the "G" string was lacking punch in the mix, and just sounded weak.

He's taken the plunge again, but has found the same problem, the "G" is just not there at all, and there's a few of us who have them have noticed a simillar phenomenon.

Will angling the pup up a little towards the "G" help? Or is there some other explanation?

I'm told it's a Stingray thing, and is a common dilema, but then I've spoken to other ray owners who've never had a problem.

Any ideas?

 

[Jimmyb]

Your friend is missing his G string when he plays live?

His G string is not very noticeable when he plays live?

He wants to angle a pup towards his G string?

I love my childish sense of humour

I've got a friend with a SR and he's never had any problem like that, plus I really can't see it being a common thing, otherwise EBMM would have taken care of it long, long ago.

I'd say a call to CS could help....

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

The pup should be slightly higher on the G side

 

[bovinehost]

It can take a bit to get it just right, and it's best to adjust the pickup on the fly, while playing at rehearsal.

I've done it once or twice and it worked out fine.

 

[russjm]

Thanks for that, I'll be raising the pup a little on the G side later. I've been playing the ray through the Tascam this afternoon, and it sounds just brilliant, no problem at all, so I'll see what difference I get live, later in the week.

 

[adouglas]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but you can go too far with this. If you let the pickup get TOO close to the string, you'll choke it...the magnetic field will damp the string's vibration.

The factory-spec pickup heights are in the FAQ. You'll need a machinist's ruler that measures in 32nds of an inch (five bucks at any Home Depot).

 

[jamesattard]

One of my friends has bought a 2 band ray, second hand, but relatively new I think. He's had one before, but was put off the first one because while playing live, the "G" string was lacking punch in the mix, and just sounded weak.

He's taken the plunge again, but has found the same problem, the "G" is just not there at all, and there's a few of us who have them have noticed a simillar phenomenon.

Will angling the pup up a little towards the "G" help? Or is there some other explanation?

I'm told it's a Stingray thing, and is a common dilema, but then I've spoken to other ray owners who've never had a problem.

Any ideas?

these three things combined together worked for me to solve a similar issue:
1) if you're using roundwound strings, use nickel rather than steel
2) use a .45 or more gauged G string
3) raise the pickup on the G string side

all of them are effective even separately, but i totally solved the problem without compromising the instrument and/or sound, by doing the three of them at the same time. I use cheap acme strings (which are .45 G and nickel) to try this experiment, and it really worked. so in the future i'll just upgrade the strings to EB. raising the pickup on G side is also important - also if you have a compressor, you'll have that nice even tone.

 

[Steamthief]

I just got my G sounding even with all the other strings tonight. I lowered the bridge saddle one quarter turn on each hex-nut, and wow! The punch arrived!

 

[PocketGroove82]

Has your friend ever thought of using a compressor?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but you can go too far with this. If you let the pickup get TOO close to the string, you'll choke it...the magnetic field will damp the string's vibration.

The factory-spec pickup heights are in the FAQ. You'll need a machinist's ruler that measures in 32nds of an inch (five bucks at any Home Depot).

Yup. If adjusted too high then the pickup's magnets will restrict the string's vibrations with weird results.

A steel rule is ideal for accurate measurements.

I do it by aiming for 4/32" between the top of the magnet and bottom of the string while depressing the E at the last fret and only 3/32" while depressing the G. The G side of the pickup may have to go up or down a tad for even volume all the way across the strings. This works out the same as the EB measurements.

 

[russjm]

Thanks for all that.

James, yeah, I've done all those things. 45-100 nickel Super Slinkys, and I've raised the pup a touch at the G end, so hopefully, that's me sorted.

Compression is another thing to try, I have a compressor on my Roland that is on most of the time, so that helps, I'm not sure whether Al uses compression or not, I'll put it to him.

 

[homerplaysbass]

Hey Russ - you're a real pal! I'm really loving this 'Ray, I want a 30th Anniversary now!

Hi guys, I'm the man with the missing G-string (ooer missus!). The bass sounds fine solo but the G just gets lost in the live band mix - as it did with my last 2EQ 'Ray. It's particularly noticeable on one song we do (Treat Her Right) where there's a lot of G string activity.

It's strung with a new set of Slinkys 50-105.

I'm gonna try a few things that you guys have recommended above - ie; angling the pup slightly, lowering the G string a bit and also, I'm gonna play about with my EBS Multicomp to see if adjusting that helps.

I've been away from this forum for a little while after I had a rush of blood and foolishly sold my Bongos (sorry). But after several months of therapy, I'm better now and have decided that I'm gonna keep at least one EB bass in my collection from here on.

 

[russjm]

Those Bongos were awesome.

Glad you like ray Al, I'm looking forward to giving it a go at some point, I must check your gig list, and check out the chick on the drums.

 

[homerplaysbass]

Did a gig at the weekend with it and all was well. I raised the pup on the G string side, used a bit more compression than usual and no more missing G. Sorted.

By the way, just bought an amazing Sterling - transparent orange, maple neck and a Nordstrand pup. Sounds stunning and I can't put it down.

 

[russjm]

We want pics AL, a nice shot of the two of them together as we haven't had one on BT.

 

[gafbass02]

strange

Its strange, i see the ray as being a real solid tank of a bass that is just a solid dependable truck like thing, and yet i have found from the few ive had that it is more responsive to small adjustments than any of my other basses, and a little really does go a long way in terms of tone and feel; more like a highly tuned sportscar than a truck! Ive heard lots about this G string issue, so im sure its out there, thankfully its not something ive come across personally though.

 

[homerplaysbass]

We want pics AL, a nice shot of the two of them together as we haven't had one on BT.

I'm not gonna post 'em on BT mate - I'm fed up of the schoolroom cissy bitching I have to endure whenever I buy and sell a bass. That place is going down the nick IMHO.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I'm not gonna post 'em on BT mate - I'm fed up of the schoolroom cissy bitching I have to endure whenever I buy and sell a bass. That place is going down the nick IMHO.

LOL...classic...love it

 

[russjm]

Yep, know what you mean, I'm not there much these days either.

 

[PocketGroove82]

Did a gig at the weekend with it and all was well. I raised the pup on the G string side, used a bit more compression than usual and no more missing G. Sorted.

By the way, just bought an amazing Sterling - transparent orange, maple neck and a Nordstrand pup. Sounds stunning and I can't put it down.

Those Nordy pups are nice.

I'm glad to hear a minor adjustment fixed your issue.
I was having some complaints about being muddy, but I just tried a different EQ on my SR5 and those pesky brass players shut up.