E string sounds really bad. Help!

[Flipper43]

Hi guys, i recently bought and put on D'addario medium gauge prosteel strings. I upgraded to get the tension i needed for playing at E flat with the E, A, D, & G string, with the E string sometimes half a step down for E flat. When i put them on i realized they were too thick for the nut, so i loosened them and used the string to shave the nut to the width and everything it needs to be for that string. I haven't been having problems with the A, D, and G string since i did that, but my E string still sounds horrible and muted. Kind of rubbery, if you know what i mean. It doesn't ring through clearly; it sounds like you're pressing on the metal fret itself instead of the middle of two. Also, all of the strings have kind of a chorus-y effect to them. I'm pretty sure that's supposed to happen with these strings, but i'm not completely sure. Thanks for any help, it is greatly appreciated!

[Meatrus]

The nut will affect open notes only as far as buzzing is concerned. Check if its just open notes that make strange noises, or fretted ones also. If its just opens, you messed up the nut, if its fretted too, I'm not sure! Either way there should be no Chorus noise.

[Flipper43]

It's only the fretted notes that sound like that. The Open ones sound chorus-y though.

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by Flipper43

It's only the fretted notes that sound like that. The Open ones sound chorus-y though.

Open choursy notes = nut too loose, this can be fixed with a small piece of card or paper under the strings until you get a new nut (which you now need !). The fretted ones could be down to a bad set of strings. Theres nothing you could have done to affect the fretted notes, so its either you dont like the strings, or they are defective.

Hope this helps

[Flipper43]

Originally Posted by Meatrus

Open choursy notes = nut too loose, this can be fixed with a small piece of card or paper under the strings until you get a new nut (which you now need !). The fretted ones could be down to a bad set of strings. Theres nothing you could have done to affect the fretted notes, so its either you dont like the strings, or they are defective.

Hope this helps

Alrighty. Where can I find a new nut and how would i replace it? Also, is there a way i can get it so it fits the strings that i have?

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by Flipper43

Alrighty. Where can I find a new nut and how would i replace it? Also, is there a way i can get it so it fits the strings that i have?

Hmm, you would need to go to a local luthier or setup guy for a new nut. You can check for sure if you need a new nut by wedging a piece of paper under and round the strings in the nut and seeing if it still happens (the chorus noise if caused by the string vibrating against the nut). One thing that doesnt add up to me is that medium gauge should fit most nuts, so you shouldnt have needed to alter it .

[Flipper43]

Originally Posted by Meatrus

Hmm, you would need to go to a local luthier or setup guy for a new nut. You can check for sure if you need a new nut by wedging a piece of paper under and round the strings in the nut and seeing if it still happens (the chorus noise if caused by the string vibrating against the nut). One thing that doesnt add up to me is that medium gauge should fit most nuts, so you shouldnt have needed to alter it .

Yea, that's what i was thinking. But every time i started to play, the string would pop off of the nut. I'll try the paper thing, though. Also, i thought that if i alter it, than it'd make the strings sound clearer. Which it did succesfully with the A string and the D+G.

[Meatrus]

I cant think what the problem is! The difference in strings shouldnt cause the medium gauge to not fit the nut, let alone slip from the nut when tuned up.

I dont mean to sound rude, but is there maybe something you possibly did wrong?

[Flipper43]

Well, i'm pretty sure i did everything right. I put the string in, cut it 2 1/12 inches past the tuner i was going to put it in, put it in the hole, bent it sideways, and made sure it was tuning up the right way. Also, i tune to Eb/C#-Ab-Db-Gb. I gonna go try the paper thing right now.

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by Flipper43

Well, i'm pretty sure i did everything right. I put the string in, cut it 2 1/12 inches past the tuner i was going to put it in, put it in the hole, bent it sideways, and made sure it was tuning up the right way. Also, i tune to Eb/C#-Ab-Db-Gb. I gonna go try the paper thing right now.

Cool, sounds fine, just having trouble guessing what went wrong before you filed the nut, as they should have fitted right in. Even if they didnt, they should have gone halfway in so they wouldnt slip out. My guess (if its not a new bass) is that maybe a previous owner fitted a nut for extra light gauge strings.

[Flipper43]

Originally Posted by Meatrus

Cool, sounds fine, just having trouble guessing what went wrong before you filed the nut, as they should have fitted right in. Even if they didnt, they should have gone halfway in so they wouldnt slip out. My guess (if its not a new bass) is that maybe a previous owner fitted a nut for extra light gauge strings.

That's exactly what i was thinking.

[Kipaste]

Very weird indeed. The open string does sound like a too big groove in the nut, so maybe you overdid the filing?
What comes to the fretted notes sounding dull and muted, that could be a defective string. I've had one or two strings from d'addario that were definately defective. My local dealer always gave me a single replacement string when I came back the next day asking for one. I did stop using d'addarios though, but not because of the couple defective ones

In your shoes, I'd probably go to ask for a replacent E just to solve the mystery of fretted notes. Then I'd go for a tech/ luthier for a new nut. You can do it yourself, but I think you're better off letting a pro handle it. Otherwise you may end up spending many hours filing the the new nut only to find out that you need a second try to make it perfect. The nut job isn't usually that expensive anyway.