E string problem - CHORUSING AGAIN!!!

addylewis · #1 02-27-2010, 10:44 AM

I'm annoyed...my E string went all chorusy like my A string did a while ago - I replaced it the day before yesterday and now its sounding SLIGHTLY chorusy again!!! (I don't think its my paranoia...the other 3 strings have only had 3 hours play on them and I don't get my strings dead quickly - it sounds PRETTY DAMN CLOSE to the others in terms of "new string zing"...)

It's NOT the intonation, its NOT got twisted when putting it on, it IS a brand new string, the pickup is NOT too near the string...I actually took it back down when I got it back from the shop coz they screwed up the pickup height pretty badly (first time the height has ever changed in 9 years since I got the thing new...) and I stupidly chucked the reciept...

...My only thoughts are possibly the saddle (with a replaced nut on the thing put on by STUPID music shop which is the wrong size (SLIGHTLY smaller) and I can't find a proper tight fitting allen key for yet...), a dodgy fret somewhere (which IS possible coz I asked the shop for a full fret levelling job...previously no problems), OR something wrong with the nut.

The dodgy A string that was on it is fine now I've replaced it...

WHAT SHALL I DO WITH THIS ONCE BRILLIANT BASS WITH NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER WHICH IS NOW AN AWKWARD BASTARD?

Jim Nazium · #2 02-27-2010, 01:20 PM

Ah, the mysterious chorus sound. I've had it happen a couple of times, and both times it was with strings that do not have silk at the end (DRs and D'Addarios). It's been suggested to me that cutting a string like that without bending or crimping it first, per the instructions in the DR package, might allow the wrap wire to unwind slightly, causing the dreaded chorus sound. I'm not 100% sure that was the cause, but I have tended to use mostly silk-ended strings since then and have never had it happen again.

Hope that helps. Good luck mate.

bassmanjla · #3 02-28-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

Ah, the mysterious chorus sound. I've had it happen a couple of times, and both times it was with strings that do not have silk at the end (DRs and D'Addarios). It's been suggested to me that cutting a string like that without bending or crimping it first, per the instructions in the DR package, might allow the wrap wire to unwind slightly, causing the dreaded chorus sound. I'm not 100% sure that was the cause, but I have tended to use mostly silk-ended strings since then and have never had it happen again.

Hope that helps. Good luck mate.

I pretty much exclusively use DR's these days. I always cut em straight.
I have only ever had one problem with my DR strings.

I had ONE Set go dead within a week. but that was a fluke i'm sure, as the whole set went limp and dead sounding.

I"m not sure what you mean by "chorusy"

Also, I play alot. Generally between 4-7 hours every day. If I rock a set of DRs for as long as I can, their average tone life is generally about 2 - 2.5 weeks for me. but I tend to switch them out every week or so.

addylewis · #4 02-28-2010, 01:18 PM

UPDATE: The problem's changed in band practice...

...NOW that new string is LOUD whilst playing and I can't hear the others...?

Ah goddamn it - Nobody complained about it, but it was annoying having a nice loud E string and un-distinguishable other strings...they're all pretty new, I don't get it...

I'll have a fiddle with the saddle screws again and raise it a bit...unless someone can think of any other suggestions which may help? (I DO know they're all roundwound and the other strings are Ashdown 80/60/40 and the new one is an Elite 105 which doesn't quite fit with the rest of the set...I wasn't expecting the difference to be SOO bloody noticable during band practice!!!)

Doodaddy · #5 02-28-2010, 01:47 PM

I had that problem with some Ken Smith Bass Burners on my Conklin. I've only had that problem with those strings.

testing1two · #6 02-28-2010, 02:12 PM

The chorusing effect is caused by a bad string, usually because it has been twisted (the twisting effect partially separates the core from the wrap) but every now and then it can be manufacturer defect. Saddle and/or pickup adjustments won't fix it. It's time for a new set of strings and be very careful installing them so you can rule out twisting. Some manufacturers understand this happens from time to time and will give you a replacement string/set if you send them an email.