B suddenly got floppy!

[Enmesarra]

My Jackson 5er had a tight and strong B but about a month ago, I realized it suddenly becoming floppy and weak. I thought my old D'Addarios were the reason, so I have ordered a set of Sadowsky nickel rounds. I changed the strings last week but the same problem continues. The first thing that came to my mind was the neck setup but there aren't any major buzzes on any fret. Any ideas?

 

[tranceFusion]

stop reading talkbass and getting hypochondria?

 

[joebingo]

stop reading talkbass and getting hypochondria?

+1 lol

might wanna check your neck relief.

 

[spade2you]

might wanna check your neck relief.

That would be my first guess.

 

[nemo]

You can get LaBella Hard Rocking Steels 45-130 - excellent B.. must work on any bass..

 

[fourstringbliss]

My Jackson 5er had a tight and strong B but about a month ago, I realized it suddenly becoming floppy and weak. I thought my old D'Addarios were the reason, so I have ordered a set of Sadowsky nickel rounds. I changed the strings last week but the same problem continues. The first thing that came to my mind was the neck setup but there aren't any major buzzes on any fret. Any ideas?

This usually starts happening with men in their 50's - try some viagra.

 

[jinithith2]

how far down is the winding on the B? I usually make sure the winding goes completely to the bottom of the tuner peg. Is this a straight headstock or an angled one?

 

[MTMTEX]

Get a shorter b string?

 

[Hyper-Flexion]

Thats what she said?

 

[ggunn]

how far down is the winding on the B? I usually make sure the winding goes completely to the bottom of the tuner peg. Is this a straight headstock or an angled one?

On most basses that's about a turn and a half, innit?

 

[cnltb]

The string may have broken.
Not always do strings just snap, but if internal wires come lose, it may not be visible but cause poor tone.

 

[crazyguy832]

On most basses that's about a turn and a half, innit?

Only if you cut the string.

 

[ghiadub]

The string may have broken.
Not always do strings just snap, but if internal wires come lose, it may not be visible but cause poor tone.

+1
I have had this happen.

Also, you might try making sure the string is not twisted. Twisted strings can cause some weird overtones and feel odd when playing.

 

[jinithith2]

On most basses that's about a turn and a half, innit?

Mine is much more than that. I have 5 windings on my post right now and its one of those 3/8 inch posts

 

[spade2you]

The angle from more windings helps, but the OP didn't switch strings. Rather, it sounded good for a while and changed. If everything else is staying the same, really the most likely thing is that the neck might have gained too much relief due to the summer weather.

 

[benthughes]

spit on it.

 

[One Drop]

If the neck relief changes, you still have to tune the string up to B, creating the same tension as before, unless I'm missing something here.

 

[Enmesarra]

This usually starts happening with men in their 50's - try some viagra.

My D string works just fine, thank you

I have checked the neck relief and it had improved just a bit, the neck is completely straight. A 130 gauge B string would certainly help but I like plucking over the bridge pickup which is pretty close to the bridge, so I'm sticking with 125s for now.

My bass has an angled headstock by the way.

Thanks a lot for the replies!

 

[Jim Carr]

If the neck relief changes, you still have to tune the string up to B, creating the same tension as before, unless I'm missing something here.

+1

Since the actual stiffness (deflexion) of a given type string is determined by the core wire, mass, gauge, length, and pitch, I am a bit skeptical of the sensation the OP is having that the string is less stiff (floppy). How would any of the aforementioned quantities vary without changing the string?

OK, mass might vary a tiny bit if the string wears or gets very dirty. If the core wire is seriously deformed by severe frets dents, that might affect it, too, though I am uncertain about that.

A change in setup, relief, etc. can't change the physics of tension, mass, pitch, mass, and core wire, IMHO.

What might change one's impression of stiffness? Here are my thoughts: you are tuning to the wrong pitch, you are becoming stronger in your plucking/slapping hand, you've changed the way your instrument is held, you are playing farther from the bridge, or you have been spending some time playing a different instrument--perhaps a four string or a 35" scale 5-string.

 

[peterbright]

Dissolve some Viagra in MSM and apply liberally.