Dead "B" string on EBMMSR5

[pablomigraine]

We tune down a whole step so the last string is at A and just goes dead within a matter of hours and sounds like a dull thud. People say a switch to a 35" sclae instrument will fix the problem, and I beleive them, but I seriously doubt Im going to give up the stingray.

is a thicker string the answer?

Im using .130 right now.........

Who makes a thicker guage?

Should I use a taper-core?

[Basseroni]

A good setup would fix your problem versus a taper core or a 35 scale bass. Try raising the B (A in your case) saddle on the bridge and see if that helps. That will give the string more room to breathe.

The string gauge plays a small part but if the string has more room to breathe the note should ring regardless of if it's a
.125 or .130. I personally prefer .130s because of the thicker low end sound it gives but I had no problems with the note dying out when I was using .125 and I tune a half step above you (Bb).

Let me know how it works out for you.

Peace,
Robin

[pickles]

I'm guessing you're using the slinkys now? Try a stainless string. The Sadowsky .130 in particular is very bright, clear, and long lasting. Don't forget to adjust the setup and intonation for the tapered string.

[pablomigraine]

Originally Posted by Basseroni

A good setup would fix your problem versus a taper core or a 35 scale bass. Try raising the B (A in your case) saddle on the bridge and see if that helps. That will give the string more room to breathe.

The string gauge plays a small part but if the string has more room to breathe the note should ring regardless of if it's a
.125 or .130. I personally prefer .130s because of the thicker low end sound it gives but I had no problems with the note dying out when I was using .125 and I tune a half step above you (Bb).

Let me know how it works out for you.

Peace,
Robin

I've gotten pretty good at setups but I did take it in to the shop and they said they tweaked it only slightly... same result...

Originally Posted by pickles

I'm guessing you're using the slinkys now? Try a stainless string. The Sadowsky .130 in particular is very bright, clear, and long lasting. Don't forget to adjust the setup and intonation for the tapered string.

The last time I used a stainless string I regretted it for a week. I literally bled. I play all fingerstyle, have a listed to the band ( link below) and you'll see what I mean..... I play more notes in one song than some bassists play in an entire set...

any other suggestions?

[1kinal]

Originally Posted by pablomigraine

Im using .130 right now.........

Who makes a thicker guage?

Should I use a taper-core?

Thicker: I know there's the MTD .135. It's a really good B-string, the best I've found to date. I use the taper-core. Still, I'm ot sure if it's the solution for you but at least you know there's an alternative.

Originally Posted by pablomigraine

The last time I used a stainless string I regretted it for a week. I literally bled. any other suggestions?

What string brand was this? Rotosound?

I agree that some stainless are rough to the touch. There's still a lot of stainless steel on the market that are very smooth to the touch.

The DR in general are pretty smooth to the touch. The MTD's are about the same as the DR's.

If you want to stay with nickel...I've not tried them all but I do remember the Dean Markley NPS to be pretty bright (I had the Rocco Prestia set on a J-bass for some time).

There's also the Sadowsky Bright Nickel which is supposed to give you the stainless sound (bright) with the smooth nickel feel.

[JimmyM]

About a year ago, someone posted a thread about his B string going dead all the time. He called LaBella and they told him not to wrap the string around the post by hand when changing strings, and to use the tuning key to wrap it onto the post. The guy told him that when people wrap the strings around the post by hand, it takes less time to re-string but it also makes the string twisted, which causes it to go dead quicker. I don't know if that's what you're doing, but it's food for thought.

[pickles]

Originally Posted by pablomigraine

The last time I used a stainless string I regretted it for a week. I literally bled. I play all fingerstyle, have a listed to the band ( link below) and you'll see what I mean..... I play more notes in one song than some bassists play in an entire set...

It takes time to get your fingers used to stainless, but they will adjust given time. You could put them on a backup bass and start practicing with them.

If it must be nickel, then try a labella slapper, also a tapered string and a great low B.

[pickles]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

About a year ago, someone posted a thread about his B string going dead all the time. He called LaBella and they told him not to wrap the string around the post by hand when changing strings, and to use the tuning key to wrap it onto the post. The guy told him that when people wrap the strings around the post by hand, it takes less time to re-string but it also makes the string twisted, which causes it to go dead quicker. I don't know if that's what you're doing, but it's food for thought.

Twisting the core is very bad for tone and longevity. I find its always best to get the string to "release" at the bridge so it can rotate freely just before tuning to pitch. Some bridges won't accomodate that with a non-tapered string, and I think that is part of the reason a tapered string will work so much better on those basses.