Bizarre intonation problem

1987 · #1 05-13-2009, 12:41 AM

Hey guys,

I'm experiencing some bizarre intonation issues with my Fender J-bass' E string. Any note played on the low E string (including the open string) is audibly oscillating and the pitch will not settle. As I move further up the neck it gets worse and worse. By the 12th fret it sounds as if there is a bad chorus effect on the bass and becomes unplayable. This is peculiar only to the E string, the rest of the bass is fine. I took it to a luthier and he had never seen anything like it. His suggestion was that it may be the pick-ups, however it's still audible without an amp. I should also note that I have owned the bass for several years and it is only in the past few months that this problem has arisen.

If anyone has any suggestions/advice as to what may be causing this phenomena it would be tremendously appreciated. It's driving me nuts and I'd hate to have to part with this bass because this issue can't be solved.

Many thanks,

1987

musicelectronix · #2 05-13-2009, 12:59 AM

Check the pickup height. Increased magnetic field tends to do what you are describing. Also the string come closer to the pickup as you move up the neck, so that would explain the worsening effect.

Set the pickups to a lower position (especially neck pickup), I am pretty sure it will solve your problem. Oh, find another tech. I don't like it when they say they "did not see anything like this", but hey... That's just me

elgecko · #3 05-13-2009, 01:05 AM

What musicelectronix said...especially the part about finding a new tech.

JLS · #4 05-13-2009, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1987

Hey guys,

I'm experiencing some bizarre intonation issues with my Fender J-bass' E string. Any note played on the low E string (including the open string) is audibly oscillating and the pitch will not settle. As I move further up the neck it gets worse and worse. By the 12th fret it sounds as if there is a bad chorus effect on the bass and becomes unplayable. This is peculiar only to the E string, the rest of the bass is fine. I took it to a luthier and he had never seen anything like it. His suggestion was that it may be the pick-ups, however it's still audible without an amp. I should also note that I have owned the bass for several years and it is only in the past few months that this problem has arisen.

If anyone has any suggestions/advice as to what may be causing this phenomena it would be tremendously appreciated. It's driving me nuts and I'd hate to have to part with this bass because this issue can't be solved.

Many thanks,

1987

Lower the pickup, if that doesn't do it, it's a bad string, which is my guess.

Jaco who? · #5 05-13-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1987

Hey guys,

I'm experiencing some bizarre intonation issues with my Fender J-bass' E string. Any note played on the low E string (including the open string) is audibly oscillating and the pitch will not settle. As I move further up the neck it gets worse and worse. By the 12th fret it sounds as if there is a bad chorus effect on the bass and becomes unplayable. This is peculiar only to the E string, the rest of the bass is fine. I took it to a luthier and he had never seen anything like it. His suggestion was that it may be the pick-ups, however it's still audible without an amp. I should also note that I have owned the bass for several years and it is only in the past few months that this problem has arisen.

If anyone has any suggestions/advice as to what may be causing this phenomena it would be tremendously appreciated. It's driving me nuts and I'd hate to have to part with this bass because this issue can't be solved.

Many thanks,

1987

I've had this problem with round core DRs if they're twisted when you put them on the bass. Use the tuner to tighten the string, don't wind them around the peg almost all the way and then use the tuner just for the last little bit; tighten the string with tuner only. I had a SIT silencer that had the same sound, and it turned out to be a bad string.

Jim Nazium · #6 05-13-2009, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaco who?

I've had this problem with round core DRs if they're twisted when you put them on the bass. Use the tuner to tighten the string, don't wind them around the peg almost all the way and then use the tuner just for the last little bit; tighten the string with tuner only. I had a SIT silencer that had the same sound, and it turned out to be a bad string.

+1 pretty common, there are several threads about it.

Gab124 · #7 05-13-2009, 07:33 AM

Mine just started doing this as well, and just like you mentioned. I also just replaced my pups with nordy bigsplits which I know have a big magnet and winding. If it is the magnet effect, it could still do it unplugged/acoustic as the magnet still has effect, correct? I am using the same strings as before the installation and I did not notice this before pickup change out; for the OP - did you do any changes before you noticed this effect on your bass?

Gab124 · #8 05-13-2009, 09:54 PM

Mine ended up being the pickup. I moved it down today and the problem went away. The bigsplits need to be lower than any other pickup I have used and subsequently I had them too close to the strings.

dmusic148 · #9 05-13-2009, 10:01 PM

Are you using 'contact core' type strings? If so there may be too much 'core' exposed past the bridge saddle. If there's more than 1/2" or so, the problem you describe will happen.

1987 · #10 05-14-2009, 11:17 AM

Thanks for all the help so far guys, unfortunately I'm having no luck. I've lowered the pickups significantly and tried 4 different string types and it has made no difference. Any other suggestions?

elgecko · #11 05-14-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1987

Thanks for all the help so far guys, unfortunately I'm having no luck. I've lowered the pickups significantly and tried 4 different string types and it has made no difference. Any other suggestions?

Hmmmm...define significantly. Have you tried raising the pickups to see if it gets worse?

1987 · #12 05-15-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Hmmmm...define significantly. Have you tried raising the pickups to see if it gets worse?

By significantly, I mean I have lowered them as low as they can go. When I raised them higher the effect did seem to worsen mildly.

The positive that seems to be coming out of this is that I'm learning a lot about bass setup!

WildTrkey · #13 05-16-2009, 12:54 AM

Could be a mild neck twist.

JustDavid · #14 05-16-2009, 09:56 AM

Weird.

Are you sure there's not some resonation somewhere? Bridge/tuners; anything that could possibly vibrate?

1987 · #15 05-18-2009, 08:58 AM

Hey guys,

thanks for the continued responses. The bass definitely seems to be resonating more at the worst points - but I'm still searching for the answer. I'm going to try a few more luthiers and see if they can find an answer.

musicelectronix · #16 05-18-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDavid

Weird.

Are you sure there's not some resonation somewhere? Bridge/tuners; anything that could possibly vibrate?

That would be the case if it does that only at a specific frequency, such as F# . It is highly unlikely to make something vibrate throughout the entire spectrum.

elgecko · #17 05-18-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1987

By significantly, I mean I have lowered them as low as they can go. When I raised them higher the effect did seem to worsen mildly.

The positive that seems to be coming out of this is that I'm learning a lot about bass setup!

If it worsened enough to make you think it's the problem, you can always raise your strings and/or cut some foam from under the pickup (or otherwise lower whatever system is used to suspend your pickup).

Doing your own setup rules! Only YOU know exactly how you like your bass.

Eight_Stringer · #18 05-20-2009, 05:04 PM

Wild outside chance, one of my basses started to make this unusual sound only on the E string, unplugged or plugged made no difference. It is the truss rod vibrating in sympathy with ( only ) the E string, inside the neck, just started doing this after 27 years of ownership. Most likely not your problem though may be something to look out for. FWIW all "faults" make sense in the end, it is the combination of events that make it appear unusual or non sensical.
Regards.

JTE · #19 05-20-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gab124

Mine just started doing this as well, and just like you mentioned. ...If it is the magnet effect, it could still do it unplugged/acoustic as the magnet still has effect, correct? ...

Yep. The magnets are permanent magnets, so they're exerting pull all the time. It's really common on Stratocasters, and it's even been commonly called "strat-itis". A combination of relatively light strings and powerful magnets too close to the strings will cause it. The magnet's pulling the string and affecting the string's arc.

A twisted string will cause similar problems too, so try taking the E string off, and reinstalling it, taking pains to ensure it is not twisted on itself.

jte

1987 · #20 05-21-2009, 12:06 AM

Ok, so today I experimented with pick-up heights again. When I raised only the neck pickup to its absolute extreme, the oscillation drastically increased on the E string, however there was no effect on the other strings. When I did the same with the bridge pickup there was no change.

When the neck pickup is lowered to its extreme there is still audible oscillation though not as bad. When the neck pickup is scooped entirely it seems less audible. So it would seem as though the trouble's being caused by the neck pickup.