Question for experts: Basses with killer E string

[ShowLow]

I've noticed that some basses sound full and musical on the E string while some seem to struggle to get that low...sort of like my vocals. Often, the A string on the same bass kills. Changing strings (rounds vs flats) or pup height doesn't seem to make all that much difference IME as a noob.

Is it the body, the neck, the bridge, the pups, or the strings that makes an E string really sing? Or some secret sauce?

[killer]

Maybe the way you play it.
I mean, If you dig too hard, the string don't sound well, and viceversa..

[nitetrane98]

What, no popcorn icon?

[mccartneyman]

Body woods resonate differently, along with cabinets, and EQ also can have a lot to do with it.

[ShowLow]

Same rig(s), same EQ. ???

[pedroims]

I have never have had a bass with a problem on the E string. The B string is a different story. Do you have an example of a bass that cant handle the E string.

[ShowLow]

Not that a given bass can't handle lower notes...more that it thuds instead of blooms. Tuner will show a spot-on E (or F, or G etc.) but the note may not sound as full and "in tune" on some basses as others. Clearly, flats are inherently thumpier than rounds. Yet different passive 4-string J basses, for example, can sound very distinct on the E string from others of the same design with the same strings. Ditto P basses.

Trying to understand this phenomenon and maybe work around it. Make sense I hope?

[IronLung1986]

Originally Posted by ShowLow

Not that a given bass can't handle lower notes...more that it thuds instead of blooms. Tuner will show a spot-on E (or F, or G etc.) but the note may not sound as full and "in tune" on some basses as others. Clearly, flats are inherently thumpier than rounds. Yet different passive 4-string J basses, for example, can sound very distinct on the E string from others of the same design with the same strings. Ditto P basses.

Trying to understand this phenomenon and maybe work around it. Make sense I hope?

That makes perfect sense to me. That's why I don't play my Rick much anymore, because the E string was always just a bit lacking. It was really just the low E note itself; moving up the neck sounded fine. But that's such an important note on a 4 string. Solo'ing the bridge pickup helped, but I would've liked to be able to use both pickups more often. Neither the modding that I did nor any brand or type of string could solve the issue. And I had it professionally set up probably twice a year.

[mp40smg]

Originally Posted by ShowLow

I've noticed that some basses sound full and musical on the E string while some seem to struggle to get that low...sort of like my vocals. Often, the A string on the same bass kills. Changing strings (rounds vs flats) or pup height doesn't seem to make all that much difference IME as a noob.

Is it the body, the neck, the bridge, the pups, or the strings that makes an E string really sing? Or some secret sauce?

If you have eliminated strings and PU height. Then I would probably check the nut first to see if there may be an issue. (if it is mainly an open string issue)

And also may think about swapping the PUP as there could possibly be a field issue.

There really should not be that much of a difference between the E and A if it is set up correctly..

[FrednBass]

Sometimes is a problem with the pickup.

My bass has a Humbucker and a split-p pickup.
With the split pickup, the E sounds awsome and just as good as the other strings (or killer, if you prefer), but with the humbucker, the E sounds more quiet in comparison to the A string, for example.

[phillybass101]

My Jazz Basses (GL and SX) and Brutes all have killer E strings. It's hard to get away from the cliche that a lot of slappers can only slap in E :-) It just sounds soooo good.