Tuning Problem

[JauaFlash]

I've recently decided to pick up playing again after a 14-year hiatus. I purchased a UB Standard Laminate from Upton. My tuning ear is completely gone, so I picked up a tuner from a shop that sells nothing but Bass Guitars and accessories. I plugged it in to the pick up and started tuning.

I got it in tune, but the strings kept going flat, then next thing you know my G and D popped. I started with Thomastik Dominant strings, which were the strings I used to play with, and have replaced them now with Pirastro Evahs. The lower octave seems way too low, to the point where I have to play a harmonic to get the E-string tuned.

I grew up in the desert under low humidity, now I live in Seattle, where it's almost constantly 40-50% humidity. I'm wondering if this may be my problem (like the strings are acting like barometers).

I want to tune it up another octave, but I can't afford to be buying strings constantly if they popped like the last time. I've considered Kevlar-cored strings due being more stretchy than nylon, but the best I've found are strings geared toward Rockabilly/Psychobilly, and I lean more towards classical.

Any suggestions?

[MR PC]

You should take your bass to a shop that sells or works on upright basses and ask help getting the bass ready to play. Hammond Ashley is in Seattle, thats a good place.

[uprightben]

Are you unsure if you are tuning in the right octave? It is not at all uncommon for tuners to not work so great on the low E, hence the need to use the octave harmonic. I don't think your humid environment is your problem because the humidity there is fairly consistant. Your E string should be tuned to the lowest E on a piano (three Es below middle C), and most bass strings are so floppy that they can't make a sound if tuned an octave below that. So, you are probably in the right octave with your low strings, and trying to crank them up an octave could be dangerous. Maybe you are tuning your D and G an octave too high? That will definately break them. If you kow any bass players, UB or EB, or even a guitarist, they should be able to sort out this octave issue for you. If you are tuned to the correct pitches and your strings keep breaking, get thee to a luthier.

[Jake deVilliers]

The G string is the same note as the G on the low E string on a guitar, if that helps any.

The Dominants do require some special techniques to break in the strings properly which you can find by using the 'Search' function on the string pages.

Find a bass luthier who you can build a relationship with and take her/him your bass.
With the broken Doms you've already spent about the same amount it would have cost to have them install the strings safely and teach you about the process.

Maybe Pmail TroyK for the name of the woman who did the great job on his fingerboard...

[JauaFlash]

Thanks for the suggestions. I took it to Hammond Ashley today, found out my sound post shifted about 2-3 inches during shipping, they reseated it for me for about $15. Due to their busy schedule and their price for setup though, they suggested that I carve out about a 1/8 inch under my tuning pegs because the strings are chaffing a little, and that I straighten the notch for the g-string on the nut. I'm a little nervous doing this, but I'm sure I'll be fine if I'm careful. It's closer to being in tune than before, so I'm definitely on the right track.

[JauaFlash]

Originally Posted by uprightben

Are you unsure if you are tuning in the right octave? It is not at all uncommon for tuners to not work so great on the low E, hence the need to use the octave harmonic. I don't think your humid environment is your problem because the humidity there is fairly consistant. Your E string should be tuned to the lowest E on a piano (three Es below middle C), and most bass strings are so floppy that they can't make a sound if tuned an octave below that. So, you are probably in the right octave with your low strings, and trying to crank them up an octave could be dangerous. Maybe you are tuning your D and G an octave too high? That will definately break them. If you kow any bass players, UB or EB, or even a guitarist, they should be able to sort out this octave issue for you. If you are tuned to the correct pitches and your strings keep breaking, get thee to a luthier.

I was tuning it to the right octave, but it is the case with Dominant strings that you have to break them in a while to get them tuned right, they're also less forgiving and a bit more rigid than most strings. The switch to Evahs gives me a more stretchy string with better action.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by JauaFlash

I was tuning it to the right octave, but it is the case with Dominant strings that you have to break them in a while to get them tuned right...

Hmm. I've been playing Dominants for years and have never had this problem. Mine are stable after about a day, and at this point, the bass stays in tune (literally) for weeks at a time. I wonder if something else might be going on? Glad you're happy with the Evahs, though.

[toman]

Not related to any particular string, but I've had a lot of basses where the strings are just to fat for the tailpiece slots, and it takes a while for them to get seated in, and thus they keep going out of tune and I suppose could even break. I've always just regarded it as an annoyance, though a simple alteration of the tailpiece would solve the problem... Mostly I just curse when i try to get the blasted things back out of the tailpiece. Basses always hang around here and get played/tuned a lot before they go anywhere, so it never is an issue.

[MingusAmongUs]

It's also a good idea to lubricate the strings where they meet friction (bridge, nut) using a pencil -- just rub the graphite generously over the areas of the string that rub.

[robobass]

Might the nut slots be way too tight?
Robobass