from fretted to fretless, why the E string play louder?

icsmaro · #1 04-18-2008, 08:02 AM

I own an Italian hand made bass (Laurus Quasar 1995)
Bring it to a gretfull-named Liutist asking him to crete a new fretless fingerboard. Perfect work, beautifull fingerboard!
The problem is that, after his work, the E string has much more volume than the others!
can you help me avoiding a lot of kilometers for coming back to that "Holy" man?

Slax · #2 04-18-2008, 08:07 AM

Check pick up hight. Maybe the pickup is a bit closer to the E string than it is with the other strings.

Also check to make sure you're not just using more "attack" on the one string.

Ezbass · #3 04-18-2008, 08:09 AM

Sounds like you need to adjust the pickup heights. Having your bass defretted normally results in a much lower action so the strings are that much closer to the pickups and therefore louder, particularly the E and A strings. This should have done by the guy who did the defret work on your bass really, but it's a simple adjustment.

JohnL · #4 04-18-2008, 08:12 AM

Do you have the ability to adjust your pickup height? I converted a fretted jazz bass to fretless, and through this forum, learned that the nut slots needed to be cut lower, as the nut slots are cut in order to clear the frets. If he refiled your nut, it would cause the strings to be lower and closer to the pickup, giving you a volume boost as well. It may just be noticeably louder on the "E" string. If he didn't adjust your pickups, you may just need to lower your pickup height. (at least I hope it is something as simple as that)

Oops! I type so slow, you other guys beat me to the punch!

icsmaro · #5 04-18-2008, 01:35 PM

I've controlled the distance between PU and strings, it seems to be the same for each ones.
Pherhaps the lowE need to be more distant than the others?!
So I'll try to regulate the PU Height! It will be easily I think!

Thanks all of you for the answers

At least wonna ask to the third boy who talk about Nut slot!
Sorry but my english is not yet so good to traslate that therm....
Can you explain me what is that?

Ezbass · #6 04-19-2008, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icsmaro

I've controlled the distance between PU and strings, it seems to be the same for each ones.
Pherhaps the lowE need to be more distant than the others?!
So I'll try to regulate the PU Height! It will be easily I think!

Thanks all of you for the answers

At least wonna ask to the third boy who talk about Nut slot!
Sorry but my english is not yet so good to traslate that therm....
Can you explain me what is that?

Although distances from the pickups maybe the same, the E string has more mass and so creates a bigger disturbance in the magnetic field. General rule is set up by eye first and then use your ears.

The nut slot is the plastic/bone guide at the far end of the fingerboard that governs string width and height at that end. The height will probably have been lowered as part of the defret.