Low E Sustain Problem..

Mr.Thunderbird · #1 07-23-2010, 02:06 PM

I must not have set my bass up right, but I made a Rickenbacker knock-off and every other string but the low E seems to be fine. I count that it takes 15 seconds for the others to fully sustain where as the lowest takes 5 seconds. Any tips? The dampers are loose and everything seems to be at the right height, I am kind of at that point where I would like to ask you fine gentlemen opposed to taking it to the music store. I probably will do that sooner or later though, but any help is greatly appreciated!

salman · #2 07-23-2010, 02:30 PM

Not seeing the bass...I would ask about pickup/string height. If the pickup is too close to the string, it will affect sustain and intonation. Especially if you are using pickups with stronger magnets. This will usually affect the E string more than the other strings because 1: there is more metal in the E string, it's thicker, so the magnetic pull from the pickup is stronger. 2: the E string has the least amount of tension, so the magnetic pull will have greater affect on the string. In short, the pickup will pull on the string and kill the string vibrations.

There could be other issues as well, maybe in the bridge...couldn't tell without looking at it.

wmheilma · #3 07-23-2010, 02:38 PM

Good call on the pickup height. I forgot about that issue, but have had it long ago on a bass I no longer own. Another possible cause is the geometry under teh E string at the nut. It the contact is not good a the nut, vibration will cross ove in an uncontrolled way that can rob sustain. It could also be a defective string where the wraps are not tight to the core, but this is a rare phenomena these days. Good luck!

FunkMetalBass · #4 07-23-2010, 02:43 PM

How long do they sustain when you fret them at the 3rd fret?
If it's equal all-around, your nut slot is either poorly cut and needs to be redone, or the string break angle on the nut is not sharp enough.

stingray69 · #5 07-23-2010, 03:10 PM

Good advice in here already regarding the nut slot & checking the pickup height/magnetic pull.

If the nut slot is OK, (and assuming you play standard core strings) then you could also consider trying a taper-core E string to see if the issue disappears. If the E string is not sitting well in the saddle groove, the result will be the symptoms you are describing (lack of sustain, usually accompanied by a noticeably duller tone than the rest of the strings). But those exact same symptoms can be caused by an uber-tight fitting nut slot, so be sure to check them both. If the taper-core experiment resolves the issue, you may want to consider widening the E-string saddle slot so the string makes better contact on the saddle.

For reference, the saddle issue plagued me very briefly on 2 Ken Smith basses - I didn't realize right off the bat that the B & E string saddles on those bridges were slotted very narrow for specific use of his own KS brand strings (which are taper-core). After I used a needle file to widen them out - all the life, tone, & sustain returned to those strings & they sounded as crisp & full as the others. Good luck with the issue.

BigOldHarry · #6 07-23-2010, 03:17 PM

First thing that leapt out of the OP was "Rick knockoff"...

It could be the wood for all we know. Some knockoffs are decent, some are just *awful*. I've played more than a few "knockoffs" with dead strings, dead necks, etc.

toobalicious · #7 07-23-2010, 03:29 PM

could the string be twisted? that will make one suck, sure as shiot.

Mr.Thunderbird · #8 07-24-2010, 11:38 AM

@FunkMetalBass: Every other string lasts 15 seconds fully, this one only last 5 seconds fully. It kills me to hear this, but I was rushed through setup..

@toobalicious: Not quite sure how to check that, do you mean at the top?

stingray69 · #9 07-24-2010, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Thunderbird

@FunkMetalBass: Every other string lasts 15 seconds fully, this one only last 5 seconds fully. It kills me to hear this, but I was rushed through setup..

@toobalicious: Not quite sure how to check that, do you mean at the top?

Sometimes when putting on new strings, a string can develop a twist in it - over the length of the entire string. Imagine twisting up a towel to wring the water out of it. You could loosen the E string on the tuning peg and letting the string naturally unwind any built up twisting tension it may (or may not) have built up in it. The other way is to fully remove the string & put it back on the bass - being mindful to let the string lay where it wants to lay, especially the ball end at the bridge just before re-tensioning the string.