E string hisses?

[saboturd]

Hallo guys,

I just started playing bass and noticed my E string hisses after about 4 days.
It had not occurred to me yet, because it's barely noticeable when I turn the EQ.
But for tuning purposes I just put it to neutral and heard it.

I can only hear it when played open or on the first two frets, from the 3rd one on I can't hear it anymore.

You can listen to it here, maybe you know what could cause the problem.
http://soundcloud.com/saboturd/bass-hiss

Thank you!

[JustDavid]

Link doesn't give a sound file.

"E string hisses <snip> when played open or on the first two frets" doesn't say anything to me. All I can think of for a problem like that is a low nut slot for the E giving fretbuzz, which should be quite obvious if you play unplugged.

[wcriley]

Can't tell for sure without hearing it, but probably fret buzz.
Most likely the E string isn't sitting deep enough into the nut, making it difficult to push the string down enough.
Another possibility is a high fret under the E string.
In either case, it's a simple fix for a tech with a file.

[jaibot]

i think i get this too, i believe it is the end of the string rattling in the tuner post

[saboturd]

Try the link again, it should now work.

"E string hisses <snip> when played open or on the first two frets" doesn't say anything to me.

The hissing only occurs on the first three notes you can play on the string (open, first fret, second fret). From the third fret on the sound is gone.

The string isn't loose anywhere I checked it. There is no rattling anywhere. It also does not hit the fretboard or anything.

[jaibot]

put your ear really close to the tuning peg and listen, same thing happens to me

[saboturd]

And? What's with the tuning peg? The hissing is everywhere and nowhere. I can't make out a specific place. And it's not loose anywhere, if you implied that. Neither at the head nor near the bridge.

[vivifiction]

try to play an open E and gently press down the string in between the nut and the tuning peg. Sometimes, if there's not enough of a downward angle on the string between the nut and peg, you'll get some hiss. If pressing down between the nut and peg makes the hiss go away, then re-string the E making sure the string gets wound as far down on the peg as it can. otherwise, you've probably got an issue with the nut, or maybe you need to adjust your truss rod.

[Neon Scribe]

I had a rattle that came from the headstock that turned out to be a loose tuner. Tightening the tiny screw that holds the tuner on the headstock fixed the problem. Maybe not your problem, but worth checking.

[SMILEYSIXX]

Depends on the headstock too. Happened on my Precision. Nonangled heads need the strings pushed down closer to the bottom of the tuning head, if they sit too high, they'll rattle against the nut.

[saboturd]

I checked all those places. The string sits tight everywhere. It doesn't rattle at any place. That's what confuses me so much.

It's like the string rattles in itself... I tried loosening it really strong and put it into the nut and everything to be really sure it's fastened.

Thanks for all your suggestions, but it really still sucks. Now I would say it also is on almost all frets, not only the first two anymore.
And it sounds as if the whole body of the guitar hissed (along with everything else, of course...)
Man, I'm really helpless.

[SurferJoe46]

It might be handy to know the brand of strings and how old they are too.

A string that is twisted when it's installed can make all sorts of audible sounds.

If the string(s) is/are wound upward on the post, then the tension against the top nut is insufficient - but that's already been dismissed - yet might not have been stated so.

Parasitic harmonics are a possibility too, as a vibrating string will have all sorts of vibrations in a lot of orders and even a tertiary harmonic will not be easy to find. These sounds can cause something ELSE to harmonize or 'sing along' with the freq of the string, even though you are talking about other than one place or note on the bass.

I had this trouble with the propellers on the pylon racers when I competed. I SWORE that the empannage was buzzing and it really was a 1/2 gram of weight difference on one of the prop tips causing the tail feathers to hum.

If I had another set of strings and after installing them - one at a time and the sound went away - I'd be inclined to think that the offending string was defective.

[JimmyM]

ignore it. i've had basses do that before. can't hear it amplified, though.

[TheGinBass]

Hey guys, i've been having this hiss that i think coming from saddle whenever im playing d and a string open, what can i do to fix this?