PLEASE HELP!! Odd pitch wavering in fretted notes

SupportFreak · #1 07-19-2006, 05:05 PM

I would greatly appreciate any advice anyone could give me-
On my E and D strings, there is a slight pitch warbling on any notes higher than the 7th fret, and it becomes really bad after the 12th fret.

I noticed it at first because I thought my intonation was off, because the note sounds flat, but it also makes the battling soundwave pulse that you hear when you hit the harmonic notes to tune. I dont know why this happens on my bass when I only play a single note! and why is it also flat? I have adjusted my intonation and action around, with no avail. It does seem to become less ugly when I have higher action though...

PLEASE HELP!!!!

JonnyBlackhands · #2 07-19-2006, 05:09 PM

I think I remember reading something like this awhile ago, where it was the pickup height that was the problem, it being too high.
I'd check into it a little more though, as Im basing myself completely off memory

emils · #3 07-19-2006, 07:21 PM

As he said! ^

TrooperFarva · #4 07-19-2006, 10:02 PM

Take a gander, I had what I believe was the same issue

Intonation problem? SOLVED!

keyboardguy · #5 07-19-2006, 10:34 PM

Yeah, your pups are too close to the strings; bring em down a little and see if it helps....

Mike

MuzikMan · #6 07-20-2006, 03:10 AM

This is a long shot but I had a set of strings that did this to me once. When I changed the strings it went away

. I can't explain it. BTW my bass has active EMG pickups so that probably wasn't the problem in my case.

**Rodent** · #7 07-20-2006, 08:18 AM

I have experienced this same effect when using DR strings the past year. Problem was easily solved by using a different brand of strings of an identical gauge. Without any other adjustments the overtones/warbles went away. Just to prove to myself that it wasn't the strings, I put the DRs back on ... presto! the overtones/warble was immediately back.

since then I've been using D'Addario XL nickle wounds without any problems

all the best,

R