String Retainer for Rondo's Floppy E?

selowitch · #1 02-15-2010, 04:15 PM

I'm finding the E (4th) string on my new Rondo short-scale P to be a mite floppy and duller sounding than the other strings. Would adding a string retainer like this one possibly be helpful?

Turnaround · #2 02-15-2010, 04:35 PM

No. A string retainer will help with a string that is rattling in the nut, but it won't help a "floppy" string to be less floppy.

selowitch · #3 02-15-2010, 04:37 PM

I ordered the heaviest LaBella Deep Talkin Flats I could find for short scale (from JustString-dot-com), so hopefully that will help.

Overall, the bass is really nice but so far that E string is a bit disappointing.

Turnaround · #4 02-15-2010, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selowitch

I ordered the heaviest LaBella Deep Talkin Flats I could find for short scale (from JustString-dot-com), so hopefully that will help.

I hope you haven't introduced an intonation problem. There are limits, and going to the heaviest flatwounds is bound to test those limits.

selowitch · #5 02-15-2010, 06:20 PM

Well, they're .049, .069, .089, and .109 -- not all that big.

Would putting in a new, well-fitting nut help with the floppiness issue, or is that just a fact of short-scale life?

I'm pretty sure the stock Rondo strings are: .040, .055, .070, and .095, so it is a significant difference. But what's the harm so long as I readjust the truss rod, intonation, and action?