Weird open E sound

[JRNV]

Hey guys,

I've just bought a Fender Blacktop Jazz Bass after lurking on here for a while and getting some info on all sorts of basses.

However, now I've played my bass guitar at home, I started noticing something strange when playing an open E string. Best I can describe is it sound like it has a very subtle chorus effect on there. Anyone know if this is normal and if not, how to fix it?

Thanks in advance!

[Ewo]

Only open string? Weirdness gone, with fretted notes?

I'm guessing: the string is rattling very slightly, in the nut slot. Test that theory by putting your left hand finger on the string on top of the nut; pluck string with right hand.

Weirdness gone?

If that's it, see if the wrap on the E string is too high on the post to hold the string in the slot. Loosen string tension; push wrap down on the post and hold; bring up to pitch.

[DanHB18]

I've also noticed this before on my Jaguar but thought it was just due to the midrange frequency bump. Maybe not.

Edit- The above seemed to work for me. Thanks

[Ewo]

Originally Posted by danalber

I've also noticed this before on my Jaguar but thought it was just due to the midrange frequency bump. Maybe not.

Thinking...

EQ wouldn't affect only the open note. And neither would a bad string.


Edit: glad it worked for ya!

[mellowgerman]

Sounds like a twisted string. Unwind the string from the peg and rewind it. If that doesn't solve it, your pickup could be set a tad too high and causing the magnets to interfere with string vibration. Lower the pickup. If it's neither of these things, I would try a different set of strings.
This exact thing just happened on one of my basses yesterday. It was just a twisted string but I've also had the pickup issue in the past.

[DanHB18]

Originally Posted by Ewo

EQ wouldn't affect only the open note. And neither would a bad string.

Just for future reference, it wasnt only the open E on my part, it was all the way up the string, but became more obvious near the 12th fret and up, as the pitch became higher.

[Ewo]

Originally Posted by danalber

Just for future reference, it wasnt only the open E on my part, it was all the way up the string, but became more obvious near the 12th fret and up, as the pitch became higher.

Problems with the nut slot don't affect any notes but the open string.

I'm guessing the pickup's too close to the string, or the string's gone bad.

Never thought about a string being "wound up" as it's installed. (Mellowgerman's post, above.) Worth trying: loosen string, remove from post (see if has any tendency to untwist, as you do); reinstall.

[DanHB18]

All I can say is it's gone here.

[testing1two]

definitely sounds like a twisted string

[Thundar]

+1 Twisted string....curse of my bass playing existence since day one

[96tbird]

For a twisted string, just loosen it enough that you can push the ball out of the tail to release twist. Then bring it to pitch and witness point the string again. It's a good practice to do this every time you change strings.

[JRNV]

Thanks for the help guys. I've tried everything mentioned here and it was indeed a twisted string. I only noticed it on an open E, but fretted notes seemed to improve also when I untwisted it.