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entire E string sounds dead

68Goldfish

68Goldfish

Nov 4, 2006
2,809
5,109
57
Port Orchard WA
#1
Hey guys, I just got a 06 ADJ off of Ebay about a month ago. It is a super cool bass but It didn't take me long to realize that there was something wrong with most if not all the notes on the E string. they don't ring as loud and they don't have any sustain like the other notes on the other strings. I changed the strings to DR highbeams and had a pro setup done on it but didn't really notice any difference. I tightened the neck and bridge screws and I cinched the nut on the front of the tuner. It didn't really change anything. I've played it with a small C clamp stuck to the neck but it didn't really change anything. I'm wondering about the fact that this bass comes with an E string that has only the core that travels over the nut. I'm now wondering if using a regular .105 E string is too much for the grooves in the saddle of the bridge. I don't think that the string is sitting in the groove all the way. Anybody had any experiance with this?
 
#2
Sounds like you have a set of medium or short gauge strings on it. Get a set of standard(long) gauge stings and put those on there.If your bass is a 34" scale,you'll be ok.You might have to go with an extra long scale set if the bass is a 35" scale.
 
#3
You didn't mention anything about experimenting with pickup height adjustments. You might try raising them under the E or lowering if they are too close.

Another issue that I had once with a similar problem was the way that I wound the string around the tuning post. I used to stick the end of the string into the hole of the tuning post and them wrap it a couple of times by hand before winding the string with the tuner.. This saved time.
Turns out that (by doing it that way) you can cause a twist in the string that can make it sound dead as heck.
Best way is to completely wind the string from start with the tuner.. This supposedly helps keep twist to a minimum. It did work for me..

Most bass guitar's bridges and nuts will handle a .105.. That's considered a "medium" gauge. You always want "string" running across the nut, not tapered core.. Most DR strings are plenty long unless you just happened to get a short scale or something.

Mag...
 
#5
You didn't bring that up to the person who did the setup. They should have addresses all the issues everyone is mentioning. I would talk to them. I would try a different brand of strings. I stopped using DR's due to similar problem.

Conceivably a bass could have an issue with response at a certain frequency range, but unlikely. If it does it would cost more than its worth to fix, best just to sell/trade-in the bass for another.
 
#6
I doubt this is the problem if you had a pro setup, but make sure both screws of the E saddle are touching the bridge plate.

My MM Sub came (used) with only one screw touching the bridge plate and the saddle was leaning on the A saddle.

Killed the E sound...
 
#7
Sorry, I do not have a solution but I am having the same problem on a 07 ADJ V. All of the other strings have similar sustain but the E sounds dead. I changed the original Fender strings with some XL's and still have the same problem. I plan on stringing through the bridge instead of body on my next string change to see if it makes any difference.
 
#8
Hey guys,

I stumbled upon this while Googling for the same problem. I just got a Gibson SG Reissue bass over eBay and fixed it up and had a pro setup done. However the whole E string sounds dead. Low volume, very little sustain. It is a short scale bass (30-1/2") and I put short scale strings on it. The guy who did the setup just told me "it's just a short scale, you can't expect as much sustain as a long scale." But I guess he fails to understand that it sounds like complete ****, at least compared to the other strings. Anyone have any other ideas? Thanks a lot! I'm going to kill myself over this.
 
#10
I notice if I move around my practice room notes on the E string will sound louder or softer depending on my position relative to the speaker.

Try moving around the room and see if the apparent output level changes.
 
#11
68Goldfish said:
<snip> I tightened the neck and bridge screws and I cinched the nut on the front of the tuner. <snip> I'm wondering about the fact that this bass comes with an E string that has only the core that travels over the nut. I'm now wondering if using a regular .105 E string is too much for the grooves in the saddle of the bridge. I don't think that the string is sitting in the groove all the way.
Click to expand...
FWIW: If you get the problem when fretting the string, then it eliminates the nut from the equation (the only contact points being the fret & saddle).

I'm not a sound specialist, but surely the main factor is the string vibration accross the pickup? So either the pickup does not convert the vibration correctly (Magneto's suggestion comes to mind) or the saddle pinches the string in such away that it restricts string vibration. Not sure how to fix that, though - I would have been tempted to try the string in one of the other string slots (if it's long enough) to see if I get the same problem (played in closed position to keep the nut out of the equation).
 
#13
I play flatwounds and just put a new set of GHS Flatwounds on this morning. The E string has a significantly duller tone than the other three strings. Just prior to this set, I was using Rotosound Monel Flatwounds. With these strings, I still noticed this same phenomenon but it wasn't nearly as pronounced. I ended up dropping by a local guitar shop and showed the tech what I was hearing. In his opinion, it sounded like what he would expect from flatwounds. Of course, I do expect flatwounds to have a more muted tone than roundwounds but I wouldn't expect the E string to be different than the others. Am I wrong?

Suffice it to say, I'm stumped and would sure appreciate some suggestions.
 
#16
Hmm, I started this post over two years ago. lol. Anyway, I still have that jazz. It's still my main axe. I've gone through all sorts of basses since and none of them stay long. Nothing sounds as good as the ADJ (American Deluxe Jazz :)). If I remember correctly the thing that did the most to help the problem was to put an aftermarket (badass) bridge on it. It imediately sounded better. I also switched necks several times and now I'm back to the original neck with the original bridge and it doesn't exibit any E string problems. I am using the 8250 super bass strings with the tapered .110 E string. Allways make sure you press down on the string as it passes over the bridge saddle when your putting on new strings to help make a good angle over the saddle. Same with the nut. I sometimes think that closer is not allways better when it comes to pickup height. There probably is a limit.
 
#17
68Goldfish said:
. . . I sometimes think that closer is not allways better when it comes to pickup height. There probably is a limit.
Click to expand...


Absolutely. At some point, the magnet actually has strong enough attraction to the string that it physically dampens the string's oscillation.

With a typical passive, pole-style pickup, about 1/8" is as close as you would want to get it. If you are talking five string, the B should probably be a little further than that.
 

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