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Constant dead E string problem

#41
I'm curious about a couple things. Is the E dead from the open string on up? Do you notice this in a mix, or when playing solo? Almost all E strings are dead compared with the upper 3. It can be quite apparent, particularly as you go up the neck. I've found it can be glaring when playing alone, but not so much in group setting.
 
#43
E strings, as posted above, need care and feeding when installing. Check the bridge saddle to make sure it has a good burnished witness point, and the same with the nut, that it is wide enough and slopes slightly back from the witness point. Then at pitch, slightly stretch it, re-tune, press down a little bit on the bridge saddle and nut slot to seat the string core. Make sure there are even wraps that don't go down too far on a Fender-style headstock, just a little more angle than the A string or the angle of the D and G strings from nut to string retainer is sufficient. Use strings that only the leader goes around the tuner post, or at most only a partial wind of the main speaking length of the string, for ease of tuning.

Check the tuner bushings, the neck screws and plate, the bridge screws and plate, the intonation screw, etc., all for moderate tightness so as little resonance as possible is being sapped out of the string into the body. You might have to trim the intonation spring so it doesn't bind as you adjust intonation. Yes, even that can kill sustain.

My hand perspiration eats nickel, so I used to have to purchase extra E strings when purchasing sets, even with something with more iron than nickel in the mix, like Progressives. Even my favorite Fender Flats E-string, being wound with ribbon stainless steel, went thumpy before the rest of the set and I had to get an Ernie Ball E string because Fender doesn't sell singles. I still keep extra E strings in the case, and the next-oldest set that just came off the bass, in case of breakage or complete death of tone, so I can keep going at a gig. In the middle of a song, Boom-Boom-Boom-Thud is a lot less noticeable than Boom-Boom-Boom-Twang from a new string.

Sometimes, it's just the nature of the beast. The reason the E string has a more hollow tone coming up the neck is that the larger core is not as flexible as the other strings, so it doesn't want to vibrate in partials as easily; the relative presence or absence of upper partials is what we perceive as bright or dark in tone.

Another equalizing factor is that I change my passive tone cap from .047 to .033 to retain more mids. I can turn down the tone from about 10 to 7 or 8; this cuts the twang off the G string but leaves as much tone intact as possible from the lower strings, including especially the E string.
 
#44
i Just got rid of a 1984 USA P Bass i recently purchased it still new in the case Low E was weak i tried everything the store even put a new set of pick ups on it nope didnt work .I got rid of it got my old stingray back E string thunder pounder i LOVE it...whew
 
#45
Rotos E strings are hit and miss ....u could just be getting bogus ones but since its many brands then I can only tellu from experience that I break all my strings over at the cut point BEFORE I cut them. This is extremely important for round core strings because the wrap wire is just held by pressure and not held by the 6 sharp ends on a hex wire. I even do it on hexcore strings because I have had the wrap wire loosen on those as well and we r only talking like micro measurements here undetectable to the eye in some cases. If this ohase is executed correctly then the only other way to damage the string upon installation is by getting it twisted between its anchor points. I have had good strings which I have taken off say for bass cleaning and put them back on and the E was dead(it was a roto swing 66 in fact) .
 
#48
Zooberwerx said:
Quit telling me you took it to a professional...it all-too-frequently means nothing. With apologies to J, Walter, 202, and all those who I actually trust. FWIW, a poorly cut nut would have been identified by a competent tech; it's part of a basic set-up.
Riis
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure somebody who has worked in a high end guitar and bass repair shop for years can be considered a professional.

And he was the third guy I brought a bass to.

I noticed that the issue didn't happen on a bass that I only used a pick for, so the issue still is probably finger/thumb oils/whatever else.
 
#49
RandomBox said:
I'm pretty sure somebody who has worked in a high end guitar and bass repair shop for years can be considered a professional.

And he was the third guy I brought a bass to.

I noticed that the issue didn't happen on a bass that I only used a pick for, so the issue still is probably finger/thumb oils/whatever else.
Click to expand...

You would think (hope?) so...

If you're happy with his / their response or explanation, then I certainly can't improve upon it.

Riis
 
#50
I have a MIA Jazz Bass for a couple months now, basically brand new, after a few upgrades, i been having the same disturbing problem, its driving me up the wall. One of the upgrades is a BA II Bridge, i'm not sure if its got anything to do with it.... I also, went from rounds to Flats, but i kept the same gages. I tried a couple different string brands, including Earnie Ball, and DR's, which i like them both, but the karma still there. I'm not sure what to do neither.... :( i just want my Bass life back!!!!
 
#51
Today, i changed the E string, instead what i always used a heavy gage string, i went with a medium gage string. Instead go around the string peg four times, i only did a couple! I got the brightness, clear sound i was looking for. The thump, dead sound, gone. It seems the gage of the string plays a huge role! Keep that in mind!
 
#52
I'm wondering what actually causes a dead string? I recently put a Warmoth neck on my 62ri jazz and strung it up with my usual d'addario xl's. Tubby, thuddy E with very little fundamental, lots of wolfy overtones and half the sustain of the other strings. Luckily I bought a two pack and as such swapped E's to see if that was the issue. Yup, totally fixed. Growly fundamental back as well as the sustain. By the way, a quarter sawn maple/maple Warmoth neck has RIDICULOUS sustain.

I just wonder what the actual mechanical issue is that creates a dead string? Slipped core?
 
#53
This "witness point" concept is new to me. I have played for 30 years and never came across this term. It seems the extra manipulation of the strings could kill them sooner than expected. I used to stretch the strings a little after installing but no longer, I string up and go. They last longer.
 
#54
Hugh Jass said:
I just wonder what the actual mechanical issue is that creates a dead string? Slipped core?
Click to expand...

A couple of things kill a string - gunk/grime under and into all wraps, and the string having reached its ability to stretch any further.

A musical string is one that is free to vibrate fully, and a string is actually elastic. Like a rubber band as you pull it, it settles in to its tension. As you play you stretch it further and it goes flat on pitch - you tune it up and keep playing. It's a cycle. Eventually the string stops stretching. Good news is you don't have to tune as often - bad news is the sonic life is gone with the elasticity.
 
#55
knuckle_head said:
A couple of things kill a string - gunk/grime under and into all wraps, and the string having reached its ability to stretch any further.

A musical string is one that is free to vibrate fully, and a string is actually elastic. Like a rubber band as you pull it, it settles in to its tension. As you play you stretch it further and it goes flat on pitch - you tune it up and keep playing. It's a cycle. Eventually the string stops stretching. Good news is you don't have to tune as often - bad news is the sonic life is gone with the elasticity.
Click to expand...

That would be how a string goes dead. I meant why are some fubar'd out of the box?
 
#57
aprod said:
This "witness point" concept is new to me. I have played for 30 years and never came across this term. It seems the extra manipulation of the strings could kill them sooner than expected. I used to stretch the strings a little after installing but no longer, I string up and go. They last longer.
Click to expand...

An essential step during string installation. Increasingly critical as the string diameter increases. They are more resistant to bending at the nut and bridge saddle. Including the practice as part of your set-up / re-string procedure can prevent several maladies: "won't intonate", "action too high", "string buzz", etc.

Riis
 
#58
Hugh Jass said:
I'm wondering what actually causes a dead string? I recently put a Warmoth neck on my 62ri jazz and strung it up with my usual d'addario xl's. Tubby, thuddy E with very little fundamental, lots of wolfy overtones and half the sustain of the other strings. Luckily I bought a two pack and as such swapped E's to see if that was the issue. Yup, totally fixed. Growly fundamental back as well as the sustain. By the way, a quarter sawn maple/maple Warmoth neck has RIDICULOUS sustain.

I just wonder what the actual mechanical issue is that creates a dead string? Slipped core?
Click to expand...


Most of the time, the gage of the string is to blame. I had the same problem, i went from a heavy gage to a medium gage string, still .105 E string, problem was solved! Temperamental! idk!
 

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