Not happy with sustain on MM StingRay 5

magic papa · #1 07-07-2009, 07:15 PM

Hi,

I get quite poor sustain on my SR 5; the sound is great, but the notes die very quickly. Even a cheapo Ibanez does a better job.

I'm not sure what it can be attributed to - pickup, construction, setup, strings?

In other words - should I:

a. Visit a luthier
b. Try a different string set (I'm using GHS Boomers now)
c. Get over it as there's nothing I can do

Thanks and regards

MP

snaverb · #2 07-07-2009, 07:20 PM

It could be any number of things.

I would first check the battery, and make sure its a fresh new 9V

Then I would check the pickup height and setup

- I have never used GHS Bass Boomer strings, so I dont know about those, but I use the Ernie Ball Reg slinky 5 string set for my SR5 and they sound great and last.

73jbass · #3 07-07-2009, 07:20 PM

Sounds like dead strings to me.No sustain issues with any of my MM basses.

DaveF · #4 07-07-2009, 07:35 PM

Check the following:

1). Strings

2). Bridge - check that your saddles are connecting to the bass properly (make sure both screws are well-seated)

3). Nut - make sure there's no pinching of the strings

4) Pickup height - if it's too high the magnets will "pull" the strings toward it, deadening the note.

Craig_S · #5 07-07-2009, 08:40 PM

Also, make sure the neck and bridge screws are tight.

My SR5 sustains longer than any of my other basses.

magic papa · #6 07-08-2009, 02:50 AM

Thanks to everybody who responded.

I performed the following checks:

1. Battery is fine (brand new + gives a nasty spasm to the tonque).
2. The pickup is at a fair distance from the strings.
3. All visible screws and bolts are tight.

Pardon my ignorance, but how do I check the neck screws? I guess I need to undo that little metal cover. Sounds obvious, but I don't want to stuff it up even more by doing something silly. Is that correct?

MP

Rick Auricchio · #7 07-08-2009, 09:40 AM

1. I've found new batteries that were bad. Unless your tongue is calibrated, it is not a good test. This is especially true because most batteries will measure full voltage until you apply a load, at which point the voltage drops.

2. The pickup should be 6/32 from the bottom of the string to the pole piece. Measure at the E and G strings. The inner two polepieces are slightly taller to compensate for the A and D following the fingerboard curve.

The neck screws on my Stingray 4 are exposed.

XylemBassGuitar · #8 07-08-2009, 10:08 AM

How steep are the string angles as they go past the nut and into the tuners? Shallow or flat break angles like this can reduce your sustain. If they are shallow you can put on a new set of strings, leaving excess length on the tuner end to create more wraps on the tuners than you had originally. Make sure your first wrap goes around the very bottom of the tuning post and that the others wrap neatly above the first, this should increase your break angles a little and may improve your sustain.

Try everything else that has been suggested so far and if it still doesn't give you much sustain, take it to a luthier. There are several possible culprits for reduced sustain, and a good luthier should be able to at least tell you if something is going on or if it's just the way the bass is.

Rick Auricchio · #9 07-08-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XylemBassGuitar

How steep are the string angles as they go past the nut and into the tuners? Shallow or flat break angles like this can reduce your sustain. ... Make sure your first wrap goes around the very bottom of the tuning post and that the others wrap neatly above the first..

-1

The wraps should go top to bottom, so the string works its way down closest to the headstock. This provides a steeper angle at the nut.

EBMM tuning pins are tapered, which helps this. Three wraps is fine.

megadan · #10 07-08-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

-1

The wraps should go top to bottom, so the string works its way down closest to the headstock. This provides a steeper angle at the nut.

EBMM tuning pins are tapered, which helps this. Three wraps is fine.

I agree, winding from the top down.

XylemBassGuitar · #11 07-08-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

-1

The wraps should go top to bottom, so the string works its way down closest to the headstock.

My bad, that's what I meant...

dmusic148 · #12 07-08-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XylemBassGuitar

My bad, that's what I meant...

....But it doesn't matter anyway, unless the problem only affects open strings. Fretted notes are not affected by this issue.
My guess is you simply need new strings. Yucky old strings will die quicker than new ones when plucked.

Craig_S · #13 07-08-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magic papa

3. All visible screws and bolts are tight.

I don't mean look tight I mean are tight. Did you actually try to tighten them?

Rick Auricchio · #14 07-08-2009, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

....But it doesn't matter anyway, unless the problem only affects open strings. Fretted notes are not affected by this issue.

Good point!

magic papa · #15 07-08-2009, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

....But it doesn't matter anyway, unless the problem only affects open strings. Fretted notes are not affected by this issue (...)

Well...you got me there. Now I think that indeed the problem only affects open strings. My judgement is kinda biased at the moment, so I need to do another test in a few hours. All I've got in my head now are boomy sounds, some long, some short

I have to admit I've done rather lousy job in winding the strings onto the pegs last time. They go up and down a bit. I need to take them down and do it properly. The strings are almost brand new, but I may also try another set.

Re: battery and screws.
Battery is fine, I tried a couple new ones and the one from the bass that works fine. The screws are tight, not just looking tight.

Methinks it may be string-related issue.

Cheers

MP

Craig_S · #16 07-08-2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magic papa

The screws are tight, not just looking tight.

Well, I'm out of ideas. My SR5 sustains forever.

Fliptrique · #17 07-09-2009, 10:18 AM

Yeah, mine too... i suspect it`s the sting winding at the headstock - as you guys already mentioned above.

magic papa · #18 07-10-2009, 09:48 PM

I restrung the bass with new Slinkys and the problem appears to be solved. The boomers were indeed boomy, but the sound died too quickly. Slinkys have more zing and definitely can ring for longer.

Also I noticed than the sustain sufers a bit when I detune half step (which I normally do). When I tune normally with new strings everything is fine. I guess this is just the way things are.