Why is my B string not as loud as other?

KCooganbass · #1 03-08-2013, 05:06 AM

So, I play in a metal band, and I needed the five string for the deeper sound, but my B string is practically inaudibale compared to the other, I've looked through some threads on this, checked a few things, tested the magnetism on the pickups, higher in the B string side, tried raising and lowering the string, truss rod, but nothing seems to be working, my bass is a Stellah Ripwood, and my amp is a Fender Rumble 15, any suggestions are appreciated, and I'm new to bass (sorta) so I apologise if I don't understand something

RadioRob · #2 03-08-2013, 05:13 AM

Could be the amp. Try it on a different amp. To test pickup remove B string and place old E string or just move E string to the B slot and listen to volume comparison.

inmate13 · #3 03-08-2013, 05:23 AM

You play Rumble 15 or 150? If it's 15 you should look for a new amp. B string requiers some additional power to reproduce that freq.

KCooganbass · #4 03-08-2013, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inmate13

You play Rumble 15 or 150? If it's 15 you should look for a new amp. B string requiers some additional power to reproduce that freq.

Do you think a rumble 75 would do?

bassyogi · #5 03-08-2013, 05:31 AM

You could possibly have a bad B string or it could just be twisted. Try taking the B off, if you haven't already, and reinstall it. If it still sounds bad then a new pack of strings might be in order as well.

KCooganbass · #6 03-08-2013, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassyogi

You could possibly have a bad B string or it could just be twisted. Try taking the B off, if you haven't already, and reinstall it. If it still sounds bad then a new pack of strings might be in order as well.

I'll give it a go

punkjazzben · #7 03-08-2013, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCooganbass

Do you think a rumble 75 would do?

It might only just do, but if you can move up a bit more you'll have an amp that you can keep using as you progress.

If you want a combo, go for 12", 15", or 2x10" speakers and 150+ watts. More speaker area = more volume. Make sure you don't cut the midrange frequencies when EQing - it might sound good at home, but no one will hear you in a band when you haven't got those mids in the mix.

KCooganbass · #8 03-08-2013, 05:44 AM

Swapped the E and B, the E sounded louder than the B, I'll get a new set of strings soon and hopefully find a solution

KCooganbass · #9 03-08-2013, 06:05 AM

What about hybrid amps?

funnyfingers · #10 03-08-2013, 06:31 AM

Try another 5 string bass.

Kingbreaker · #11 03-08-2013, 07:56 AM

Also,

To check if it isn't the speaker, play into a pair of decent headphones.

Grateful · #12 03-08-2013, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inmate13

You play Rumble 15 or 150? If it's 15 you should look for a new amp. B string requiers some additional power to reproduce that freq.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCooganbass

Do you think a rumble 75 would do?

If indeed you are using a 15W amp with an 8" speaker, upgrading your amp is something you will want to put high on your list of things to do. I have had poor results trying to get useable volume on all 5 strings using 1x10's or lower. IME, I prefer at least a 12" speaker to hear a decent B. 2x10 or a single 15 will also work, IMHO.

For around the price of the Rumble 75, there are some options that can give you many more watts, which is a good thing for a 5. If you look used, there are all kinds of things available.

Good Luck!

KCooganbass · #13 03-08-2013, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grateful

If indeed you are using a 15W amp with an 8" speaker, upgrading your amp is something you will want to put high on your list of things to do. I have had poor results trying to get useable volume on all 5 strings using 1x10's or lower. IME, I prefer at least a 12" speaker to hear a decent B. 2x10 or a single 15 will also work, IMHO.

For around the price of the Rumble 75, there are some options that can give you many more watts, which is a good thing for a 5. If you look used, there are all kinds of things available.

Good Luck!

What would you recommend?

Grateful · #14 03-08-2013, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCooganbass

What would you recommend?

What price range? Same as a new Rumble 75?

**Ric5** · #15 03-08-2013, 08:13 AM

quiet b string??

- it could be the strings
- it could be the setup
- it could be the bridge
- it could be the pickups

KCooganbass · #16 03-08-2013, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grateful

What price range? Same as a new Rumble 75?

In or around that yeah

funnyfingers · #17 03-08-2013, 08:31 AM

I wonder if the B note is actually kicking off the compression circuit. Does hitting a high note and the B note cause the whole volume to go down?

KCooganbass · #18 03-08-2013, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funnyfingers

I wonder if the B note is actually kicking off the compression circuit. Does hitting a high note and the B note cause the whole volume to go down?

So I plucked the B and High E, volume went down but not too much, if that means anything, and I hear crackling if I touch any strings while they're vibrating if that's significant?

funnyfingers · #19 03-08-2013, 08:40 AM

So my guess is that the B is causing too much of a power hit and the circuit is lowering the volume and still maybe not even letting the B be heard. I see it is a sealed enclosure. What was the volume at with that test? What if you put it to half of that?

KCooganbass · #20 03-08-2013, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funnyfingers

So my guess is that the B is causing too much of a power hit and the circuit is lowering the volume and still maybe not even letting the B be heard. I see it is a sealed enclosure. What was the volume at with that test? What if you put it to half of that?

Volume was 10
Brought it down to 5
Same effect