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E strings on a 5 string

jallenbass

jallenbass

Commercial User
May 17, 2005
4,684
3,930
66
Bend, Oregon
#1
I've noticed and have read Paul Turner referring to E strings on (some) 5 strings as being somewhat problematic. What I see and hear is that the last few notes (F#, F and E) not sustaining quite as well as all the other notes. The same notes on the B string are fine. It's not a huge deal at all but I do notice it. Anyone else come across this and did you find any solutions?
 
#4
I'm wondering if its not the nut slot on the E string - maybe too tight or perhaps not at a proper 35-degree sloping angle towards the headstock. Also, if the E slot were too high it would require extra downward pressure to get a solid, long sustaining note I would think. If you have a good luthier in town you may want to seek their opinion on the matter. Best of luck.
 
#6
mmbongo said:
No problems on either of mine (G&L Tribby & Brubaker Brute). In fact both of these have a stronger, punchier E string than most 4 strings.
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+1..

I love the sound of my E string. Sometimes I wonder if it really does sound better than a 4 stringer, or if it is just the sound and feel of the E relative to that of the lower B.
 
#7
fmoore200 said:
+1..

I love the sound of my E string. Sometimes I wonder if it really does sound better than a 4 stringer, or if it is just the sound and feel of the E relative to that of the lower B.
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I had a USA Lakland, USA Spector, and a USA Millennium 4 strings...sold them all because the E strings were weak compared to my Brubaker and G&L 5 strings. I have a firm belief that 5 stringers have a much better E than 4 stringers.
 
#10
jallenbass said:
I've noticed and have read Paul Turner referring to E strings on (some) 5 strings as being somewhat problematic. What I see and hear is that the last few notes (F#, F and E) not sustaining quite as well as all the other notes. The same notes on the B string are fine. It's not a huge deal at all but I do notice it. Anyone else come across this and did you find any solutions?
Click to expand...

I've never heard that.
I have heard him say that he preferred the E on 4 string basses, but not that that on 5ers was "problematic".
 
#11
jallenbass said:
I've noticed and have read Paul Turner referring to E strings on (some) 5 strings as being somewhat problematic. What I see and hear is that the last few notes (F#, F and E) not sustaining quite as well as all the other notes. The same notes on the B string are fine. It's not a huge deal at all but I do notice it. Anyone else come across this and did you find any solutions?
Click to expand...

I have not encountered this. However, I have noticed that an open E on a 5er can sound a bit anemic in comparisson to the fretted E on the B string.
 
#14
I googled Paul Turner and found more entries for athletes than I did for musicians. In fact, in my quick search, I didn't find him at all. Who is he? And where did he come up with this information?
EDIT: Oh, once I added "bass" into the search, I see that he's Jamiroquai's new guy. Got it.


Beyond poor setup, construction problems, or improper string installation, there is no reason this should be common amongst basses of any string number. Some basses do have issues with dead spots, but I've never heard of one happening on such low notes, because the woods used on basses simply don't have such inconsistent densities as to have natural resonant frequencies under 100Hz.
 

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