E string sound

newguy101 · #1 11-03-2007, 03:59 PM

my open E string never sounds too in tune. when i play an F or a G on it it sounds in tune, but when i play it open, it never sounds good at all.
i play a new Cort Action 4 string with a P/J.

Any ideas?

p.s. i don't know if the pictures will come out

Widdershins · #2 11-03-2007, 04:14 PM

Tune the open E to pitch, and then check its tuning on the 12th fret. If it is sharp, make the string longer. If it is flat, make it shorter.

How?

Adjust the screw on the bridge that holds that saddle in place.
Should just need a philip's (+) screwdriver.

**DeanT** · #3 11-03-2007, 04:15 PM

Check it with a tuner to see if it's in tune. It's hard to tell just by listening. If it really is out of tune, it could be your truss rod needs tweaking. The neck could be a bit out of alignment.

newguy101 · #4 11-03-2007, 05:58 PM

ya, i always tune it with a plug in tuner, and all the other strings sound fine open. the E string even sounds fine when it's played on a fret, only it sounds awfull when it's open. i don't nkow if it helps but it's a 34 scale

Quote:

Originally Posted by Widdershins

Adjust the screw on the bridge that holds that saddle in place.
Should just need a philip's (+) screwdriver.

doesn't the top tuning things also make the string longer and shorter?

Jim Carr · #5 11-03-2007, 06:10 PM

Perhaps there is inadequate downward pressure on the nut, or the slot is too wide. Is the nut cracked?

The photo links seem to have gone away. It could be that how you have the E string wound onto the tuner shaft isn't giving enough downward force on the string at the nut.

PS. There is also such a thing as a bad string.

newguy101 · #6 11-03-2007, 06:17 PM

the thing that is confusing me so much though is that if i play an F or a G or anything on the E string it sounds perfect. the only time it doesn't sound good is if i play it open.

Jim Carr · #7 11-03-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguy101

the thing that is confusing me so much though is that if i play an F or a G or anything on the E string it sounds perfect. the only time it doesn't sound good is if i play it open.

When you play an open string, the nut is "the fret." Recheck my earlier post, as I updated it a bit...

newguy101 · #8 11-03-2007, 06:38 PM

ok thnx. ill check it out

newguy101 · #9 11-03-2007, 06:53 PM

i looked at the nut, and it doesn't seem to be cracked or too big. it is plastic, i don't know if that's unusual, but it seems like some cheap plaastic. the angle° from the nut to the tuner seems the same as all the other strings.

i did make it a little longer at the bridge, and then i retuned it and it seems to sound a little better. any more suggestions?

here's the link to the product:
http://www.cort.co.kr/english/produc...?product_id=87

GlennW · #10 11-03-2007, 08:16 PM

Press down on the string pretty hard where it leaves the saddle to give it a bit of a bend there. Search "witness point" for a more detailed explanation.

newguy101 · #11 11-03-2007, 10:38 PM

what's the saddle?

metallist · #12 11-04-2007, 09:10 PM

I have a Cort Action 5 - I have the same problem trying to get it to sound right, just doesn't want to stay in tune.

Must just be becouse they are cheap basses.

newguy101 · #13 11-04-2007, 11:33 PM

LOL!!! ya, it was only like 200. it's my first, and im not that serious yet, so i'm not complaining. it's just kind of weird with that one string. do you have the exact same problem?

ihertz · #14 04-09-2008, 05:51 PM

Re: Bad sound open E string.

Assuming you tried all other suggestions, and that you have a new set of quality strings, I suggest your problem be one of Equalization. If a frequency lower than the speaker and speaker enclosure tuning (thiele small parameters) is recieved, not only will it consume larger amounts more power just to hear it, but it will sound undefined like mud. I experience the same on the low E when I tune down. I lowered my Ampeg SVT3 low frequency EQ slider down until the mud becomes clear. I'm sure any quality EQ would help you.

lundborg · #15 04-10-2008, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguy101

what's the saddle?

I know it's Swenglish for nut. He probably means nut.

lundborg · #16 04-10-2008, 06:28 AM

You should fix the problem at the source IMO.

If the E-string is in tune both open and at the 12:th fret, it should
not be an intonation problem obviously. Especially if F, F#, G etc.
are in tune too

How high are your pickups set? If they are too close to the strings,
they may be causing odd harmonics.

You'll have an E (and the tuner will tell you so), but also tones
whose pitch are a product of the distance between the pickup(s)
and the nut or bridge.

bullshark · #17 04-10-2008, 01:03 PM

There seem to be 2 thing at play here.

The first is tuning. You've already been given suggestion on how to intonate the instrument but one thing that hasn't been mentioned is the hight of the slot in the nut. If it's cut too high, like it often happens on cheaper instrument, it might make it difficult tuning/intonating the instrument properly: you might get an open string and twelfth fret in tune while the first fret will be sharp, and then getting progressively flater as you move to higher fret; or tune the first fretted not and twelfth then the open string will be off. The cure for that is simple, just get a nut slotting file and cut the groove deeper (it will be easier to play too as a bonus).

The other is tone. Well, that is to be expected; open strings will sound different than fretted ones, and moreso with cheaper instrument since cheap plastic is used for nut material. The nut could be replaced with better material, but it will never sound the same as a fretted note even then.