Strange E-string problem.

[Liten]

Hi

Ive changed the bridge on my fretless a few times now as Im looking for a black bridge instead of the goldplated one that It came with..

Every time I change bridge the E-string goes numb..
It has the same attak and volume playing downstrokes with the thumb.. but regular playing with fingers makes it sound half as strong as all the other strings..

Im starting to wonder if this could be a Pickup issue?
The stringspacing is pretty whide right now.. (I have active Mec pickups in the bass.. but I can't see how whide the blade magnets go.. )

Then again.. the string passes further down on the neck pickup.. still the same phenomenon..

Any Ideas?

Ive got a Badass V bridge on right now..
The original and still great sounding bridge is a Ken Smith QSR bridge

[XylemBassGuitar]

The new bridge might not put enough tension on the string at the saddle. Generally speaking, the steeper the angle between the saddle and the anchor of the string's ball-end (as well as the angle between the nut and the string wraps on the tuning peg), the better your sustain. That is, the harder the string is pressed against the nut and saddle, the better.

Also, how well does the E string fit in the saddle groove of the new bridge? A bad fit could cause the problem you're describing.

That's weird how several bridges have caused the same problem though...

It might be a pickup issue, but the fact that it passes the closer in on the neck pickup, contradicts that idea...

Sorry Liten, that's all I've got. Good luck though!

[BZadlo]

I've had this problem when the strings are a bit too fat for the bridge saddles or nut. Make sure that there is no gap between the string and the saddle.

[Liten]

Hi guys.. Thanks for the feedback.

It was the Pickup/stringspacing problem.. the blademagnet in the pickup just ended where the string passed.. filed a narrower stringspacing and now it sings perfect..

Thanks again!