Dead E String

HELLonWheels187 · #1 01-10-2007, 10:10 PM

I just strung my P-bass with some DR Marcus Miller Sig "Fat Beams". They sound great right out of the box, the slap tone was perfect. Then the E string started to die. All the other strings sound bright and have nice bright sustain while the E is dull and has almost no resonance. I think its the strings because it wasn't like it right out the box, but i don't have a clue how i could fix this problem?

-Brandon

Ampeg SVT · #2 01-10-2007, 10:16 PM

well how long did you have that E on? was it the same day you got the strings? Im curious if you got a bad set because I know DR's arent that bright out of the box but dead like flatwound dead?

molsen · #3 01-10-2007, 10:32 PM

E string has less sustain

HELLonWheels187 · #4 01-10-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ampeg SVT

well how long did you have that E on? was it the same day you got the strings? Im curious if you got a bad set because I know DR's arent that bright out of the box but dead like flatwound dead?

I have had them on with the rest of the set and its been about a week. The E is really dead compared to the A,D,G strings.

Ampeg SVT · #5 01-10-2007, 10:58 PM

that is really odd, i wonder if that string twist thing in the link will help

HELLonWheels187 · #6 01-10-2007, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ampeg SVT

that is really odd, i wonder if that string twist thing in the link will help

That can't be it. I put the strings on perfectly. I actually measured to make sure each string had the same number of wraps. The nut is interesting but then i have to ask why wasn't it like that on my old set of string which lasted me 5 months.

molsen · #7 01-10-2007, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELLonWheels187

That can't be it. I put the strings on perfectly. I actually measured to make sure each string had the same number of wraps. The nut is interesting but then i have to ask why wasn't it like that on my old set of string which lasted me 5 months.

it's possible that the ball on the end of the e string made the string unable to twist with the windings like the smaller strings probably did. just try it...takes like 2 seconds. unwind the string a little bit so you can pull the e string out from the back of the bridge a bit and see if it wants to twist.

HELLonWheels187 · #8 01-10-2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molsen

it's possible that the ball on the end of the e string made the string unable to twist with the windings like the smaller strings probably did. just try it...takes like 2 seconds. unwind the string a little bit so you can pull the e string out from the back of the bridge a bit and see if it wants to twist.

WOW that really helped. I pushed the string at first and nothing happened so i tried again and it twist may be 1/4 of a turn. The sustain like magically increased. It makes a lot of sence because i got BAII on the bass which puts the balls very close to body and they easliy can get stuck for anybody. Thanks.

PilbaraBass · #9 01-10-2007, 11:32 PM

When you change your strings, you should tune it up first, then push down on the strings hard just in front of the bridge. This ensures that the string breaks properly over the bridge.
Then you should retune, and then stretch the strings a little, then retune, stretch, retune...etc...do this about 3 or 4 times each string.

This is one thing that many people don't do, but I feel is vital when changing strings.

PilbaraBass · #10 01-10-2007, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELLonWheels187

WOW that really helped. I pushed the string at first and nothing happened so i tried again and it twist may be 1/4 of a turn. The sustain like magically increased. It makes a lot of sence because i got BAII on the bass which puts the balls very close to body and they easliy can get stuck for anybody. Thanks.

hmmm...interesting...

when you restring, you should not "wrap" your string around the tuner post at ALL...rather, you should use the tuner to wind the string and you should guide the string as you wind it.
Wrapping puts twists in the cables, and that's not good for sound of the string.

HELLonWheels187 · #11 01-10-2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

When you change your strings, you should tune it up first, then push down on the strings hard just in front of the bridge. This ensures that the string breaks properly over the bridge.
Then you should retune, and then stretch the strings a little, then retune, stretch, retune...etc...do this about 3 or 4 times each string.

This is one thing that many people don't do, but I feel is vital when changing strings.

I strechted out the strings by holding down on various frets and pulling on them as if i well poping hard.

Margus Alviste · #12 01-11-2007, 07:14 AM

I play exclusively DR strings. I've noticed that MM E-string has often different feel and sound. It's different time to time. I guess it could be a quality issue.

Bayou_Brawler · #13 01-11-2007, 08:13 AM

i use ernie balls...this happens to me 1 out of every 10 packs or so.....

molsen · #14 01-11-2007, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELLonWheels187

WOW that really helped. I pushed the string at first and nothing happened so i tried again and it twist may be 1/4 of a turn. The sustain like magically increased. It makes a lot of sence because i got BAII on the bass which puts the balls very close to body and they easliy can get stuck for anybody. Thanks.

amazing, isn't it? that's what happened to me with my dead e string. i was thinking "there's no way a twisted string could cause that"...and boom, like magic it got fixed.