Can anyone help me?!!!

bassplayershane · #1 07-29-2009, 06:34 AM

When I play notes from the 8th fret and above on my low B string, I get horrible overtones, like there are 2 notes a semi-tone apart, being played at the same time. Obviously only playing one note and all other strings are muted to stop any harmonics. What is the reason for this? Its so annoying!!!!! The notes doing this have no punch, unlike the other 4 strings, and sound like rubbish. Is it a setup problem? Pickup/electronic problem?

Cheers!

PS: Its a Lakland 5501 with Nordy Fatstacks and Aggy OBP3 pre! Also has been professionally re-fretted with medium jumbos.

jwbassman · #2 07-29-2009, 06:41 AM

It's possible that it may have something to do with pick up height. Personally I stay away from notes that are high on the B-string, they generally do lack "punch and clarity", it's just the nature of the beast. What strings are you using? This may also have and impact on the sound. Just my opinion and advice, play the notes you're looking for on the E-sting.

bassplayershane · #3 07-29-2009, 06:47 AM

DR Low Rider strings. The bass is fine. I am a player that uses all off the neck. Especially when I am playing jazz. So want to be able to play notes anywhere. Just want to find the problem. I'll look at the pickup height. Cheers!

jwbassman · #4 07-29-2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayershane

DR Low Rider strings. The bass is fine. I am a player that uses all off the neck. Especially when I am playing jazz. So want to be able to play notes anywhere. Just want to find the problem. I'll look at the pickup height. Cheers!

Cool. That would be the first thing I would check. Especially with the Fat Stacks and the Aguilar pre. I know that the Nordies have a pretty high out put. I had a 44-01 that I put Big Singles in and a Audere and it had a very hot signal output. So if the pick up was too close/far to the b-string it may be amplifying those unwanted harmonics you're hearing. But I could be completely wrong! Who knows. Good place to start though.

jworrellbass · #5 07-29-2009, 04:20 PM

What kind of frets tall, wide. If you have high frets and they wheren't recrowned right it could be an issue. Or maybe they weren't leveled enough. I've built a few basses and even after I've done a complete fret job I still have to recheck and relevel. Do you have fret buzz on the low b? The reason you get that double sound is two frets or more are being hit by the string at the same time. I could be wrong.

bassplayershane · #6 07-29-2009, 10:31 PM

I do have fret buzz but not on the notes where these overtones are. You could be right about the frets. They are same as a stingray.

I can cancel out the electronics as the problem. I play it acoustically and I can hear the overtones still. I will give it to the bass tech to have a look at again.

Thanks!

jworrellbass · #7 07-30-2009, 08:50 AM

I had the problem on a 12 string tapper I built, you could hear it unpluged, as soon as it was amped you couldn't hear it. I havn't had any complaints from the owner. But if you have overtones when amped, I would have the frets checked.