Strangely out of tune?

Kwesi · #1 02-05-2010, 07:36 PM

So I just put some new pups (a Nordstrans NJ5FS set) in my FMT V and I'm getting strangely out of tune notes across all strings. It's especially noticeable in the higher registers. Does anyone know what this is and how to fix it? Thanks.

GianGian · #2 02-05-2010, 07:44 PM

Maybe they are too close to the strings and because of this they are pulling them. Try setting them pick ups further from the strings.

M0ses · #3 02-05-2010, 07:50 PM

IF that were it, it would be more in tune in higher registers ( a shorter length of string is harder to pull )

Check your intonation.

PJMiDi · #4 02-05-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0ses

IF that were it, it would be more in tune in higher registers ( a shorter length of string is harder to pull )

Check your intonation.

+1 ime

Kwesi · #5 02-05-2010, 07:55 PM

I'm getting the note I want and another note at the same time. I don't think it's my intonation because it was fine until I put in these pickups.

Nalte · #6 02-05-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0ses

IF that were it, it would be more in tune in higher registers ( a shorter length of string is harder to pull )

Check your intonation.

I'm not an expert, but I thought it would be more pull because the high-on-the-neck fretted string is closer to the pickups than a low-on-the-neck fretted string. Since signal varies inversely with distance squared, the distance difference should outweigh the tension difference.

Zombbg4 · #7 02-05-2010, 08:01 PM

Maybe they're just exposing technique issues...

Kwesi · #8 02-05-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombbg4

Maybe they're just exposing technique issues...

Lol, if only it were that simple

M0ses · #9 02-05-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nalte

I'm not an expert, but I thought it would be more pull because the high-on-the-neck fretted string is closer to the pickups than a low-on-the-neck fretted string. Since signal varies inversely with distance squared, the distance difference should outweigh the tension difference.

A very strong point. Now I am uncertain. Although I don't see what the signal strength has to do with it.

Try lowering the pups.

Kwesi · #10 02-05-2010, 08:37 PM

The pups are as low as they can get. They're output is crazy high sop I made sure to lower them.

Zooberwerx · #11 02-05-2010, 08:57 PM

Does the level / intensity of the ghost notes / harmonics change when rolling off to the neck pickup? When idle, can you just make out the voices of departed loved ones? If so, does the onboard pre (if any) have any type of gain adjustment?

Riis

Kwesi · #12 02-05-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

Does the level / intensity of the ghost notes / harmonics change when rolling off to the neck pickup? When idle, can you just make out the voices of departed loved ones? If so, does the onboard pre (if any) have any type of gain adjustment?

Riis

Nope, no matter which pickups I roll onto the ghost notes are still there and unfortunately the pre has no onboard gain adjustment.

4StringTheorist · #13 02-05-2010, 10:22 PM

Check that you didn't twist the strings along their length when you restrung the bass.

I had a tech do some work on my bass about 2 years ago, and I got it back sounding like it was being sent through a chorus pedal... and it was especially noticeable in the higher register. Sounds similar to your issue.

Turns out the tech had twisted the strings lengthwise in installing them.

dutchwife · #14 02-05-2010, 10:32 PM

+1 to 4-StringTheorist for an all-too-frequently missed point.

walterw · #15 02-05-2010, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4StringTheorist

Check that you didn't twist the strings along their length when you restrung the bass.

I had a tech do some work on my bass about 2 years ago, and I got it back sounding like it was being sent through a chorus pedal... and it was especially noticeable in the higher register. Sounds similar to your issue.

Turns out the tech had twisted the strings lengthwise in installing them.

this, and also check that they're not DR strings.

Bassman203 · #16 02-05-2010, 10:42 PM

Check the intonation. It's worth a try.

4StringTheorist · #17 02-06-2010, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

this, and also check that they're not DR strings.

They were round-core (either Hi-beams or Fat-beams) DR strings that did this in my case. I understand it's a particular problem for those strings if they're installed with a twist to them.

Problem cleared right up when I let them untwist and restrung.

Kwesi · #18 02-06-2010, 01:57 AM

Seems like you guys were right about the string twisting. I unwound the tuning machines and some of the strings actually spun out of the posts. I straightened them out now they're fine except the B string which still has some faint ghost harmonic thing going on but I'll try fixing that tomorrow. I guess this was more of a string issue than a pickup one, lol.

Those Nordstrands are some POWERFUL pickups, though they had nothing to do with my issue

.

RD · #19 02-06-2010, 03:35 AM

Effective muting cured some out of tune sounds in my playing.
RD

SebbyNC · #20 02-06-2010, 06:01 AM

What kind of strings are you using? I had a similar problem with (untwisted) Labella Super Steps, which have exposed core wire at the bridge saddles and known to often cause overtones.