Dead B string

[The Lockguy]

Hi, I'm new here, and I just bought a Warwick 5 string Corvette $$ 2009 LTD. The Guitar is beautiful, but I carried it to GC and had a pro setup done with new strings (Pyramid Gold flat wound) and my B string is dead. All the other strings sound fine, just the B string has very little sustain and kinda sounds funny. The guy at GC says he doesn't know why it sounds like that. Can someone help me with this please?

[Kevindavid3]

well how much experience do you have with b-strings? because they do have a different sound just because of their thickness. But a bass like that shouldn't have any problem, my suggestion would be to try a different brand of strings, and a heavier gauge of string should give you more sustain and a usually better tone.

Hope that helps

Kevin

[The Lockguy]

I've only played 4 strings and wanted to get a 5 string. This one just seemed like the perfect one to invest in because if I didn't like it, I wouldn't loose much money if I needed to sell it just because of what it is.

[DougD]

Raise the pick up height under the B string and see if that helps.

[The Lockguy]

I can try that, but I would have thought they would have done that with the pro setup.

[DougD]

Originally Posted by The Lockguy

I can try that, but I would have thought they would have done that with the pro setup.

Sometimes yes and sometimes no, just depends on who's doing the setup and how they feel that day

[Kevindavid3]

It's a good thing to know how to set up your own basses, so when you have problems like this you can fix it. I don't let anyone at music stores touch my stuff because most of the time they don't know what they are doing.

[The Lockguy]

So how do you learn how to set up a bass? I don't want to just start messing with things, especially one like this.

[tjclem]

Another example of why you location should be part of your signature. Where are you?

[The Lockguy]

Washington state.

[reverendrally]

The strings can make a lot of difference. Then there is the taperwound vs full wound option. Taperwound start the windings AFTER the string saddle on the bridge. I don't like them personally. I prefer full wound strings. What strings are on it? Coz if they are old or not suited to the instrument it can make it sound bad. But also remember like Kevin said, the B string can sound very different to the E as much as the E sounds different to the A and vice versa. I'd play it for a few weeks properly and go from there.

[The Lockguy]

The strings are brand new Pyramid Gold flat wounds

[DougD]

Originally Posted by The Lockguy

So how do you learn how to set up a bass? I don't want to just start messing with things, especially one like this.

Google is your friend but you can start with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMzsPJyNj8M
and

[larry heinemann]

I adore Pyramid flats tonally but their Achilles's heel is the low string. I have never used their 5 string set but the low E of a 4 string set is alway dead compared to the other 3 strings. I like the sound of the other strings enough that I have learned to compensate with my hands. It's definitely a bummer. You might try a different brand of flats. Maybe TI's? Or Labella's?

Larry

[The Lockguy]

What do you think about Roto-wound Monel flats for a 5 string?

[Paul M]

Sometimes it helps to remove the string from the tuning head, twist it one turn in the direction of the outer wrap and then put it back on the tuner.

[The Lockguy]

Thanks guys, you've been very helpful. We'll see how it turns out.