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Is it the TI's????

Discussion in 'Strings [BG]' started by bassbully, Jul 18, 2013.

  1. Jul 18, 2013 #1
    bassbully

    bassbully Endorsed by The PHALEX CORN BASS..mmm...corn!

    Sep 7, 2006
    Blimp City USA
    So last night my band had an outdoor show. It was very hot and humid. I was playing my Amer standard P bass with TI JF an old set at least 5-6 years old.

    I use the same bass and tuner a clip on type to tune. I was checking the tuning all night. During the night I heard a few weird overtones coming from the band during songs. They were really nothing and the crowd never knew but they bothered me.

    Late in the set the band leaser told me to check my tuning it was off. ..by my tuner it was not. He checked his allot no problems with his.
    I i have never had this issue with my band and we use the same gear every show.

    The last song of the night was the Elvis version of Proud Mary where we really hit it hard and keep it moving. I was diggin in hard in the first posistion and the bandleader thought I was playing the wrong cord but was not.

    Hhe heard me flat F instead of F# I showed him and he shrugged it off. He told me I sounded flat allot tonight.
    The drummer said only when I played G or F#(1st posistion) it sounded funny like a weird harmonic tone...something weird.

    Could it be the strings? I have had a love hate relationship wit TIs but on this P bass they sound great. I checked intonation at the gig after our show and it was right on. Maybe the heat was a factor or while digging in I was bending the strings?

    I'm baffled by this and will check all my equipment. There are allot of TI lovers and haters so maybe somebody has an idea..maybe not. Thanks.
     
  2. Jul 18, 2013 #2
    fretlessguy

    fretlessguy

    May 17, 2008
    Hopefield, AR.
    Strange. TIs have silk wrapping all the way through the string to prevent that from happening, not to say it could still happen in the right (or wrong) setting.
    If your tuner is chromatic and and can be adjusted, be sure it is set for 440 standard tuning. Mine was accidently knocked off of 440 tuning once and gave me a real sonic headache throughout the whole performance one night.
    Also, if you have not done so in a while, intonate the neck (or have it done if you do not know how by a competent tech) so it will be in tune all the way up the neck. This can cause similar problems. You may also had a string that got twisted when putting them on. take each string off the tuning peg and put them back on, retighten, and retune. If none of this helps, I am stumped...
     
  3. Jul 18, 2013 #3
    Marial

    Marial weapons-grade plum

    Apr 8, 2011
    Try a different set of strings and see what happens. It could have been frequencies from another instrument or a reflection or something else interfering with the bass, but it's pretty much impossible to say.
     
  4. Jul 18, 2013 #4
    bassbully

    bassbully Endorsed by The PHALEX CORN BASS..mmm...corn!

    Sep 7, 2006
    Blimp City USA
    Thanks guys. We were playing in an open covered area allot of wood and stee supports and I know at outdoor shows sound can get funny. I never thought to check if the tuner is in 440..good one!

    I can try anoter set of strings which are Chromes. Besides the one set of TI's all my basses wear chromes.
     
  5. Jul 18, 2013 #5
    duke2004

    duke2004 Supporting Member

    Mar 29, 2004
    Cambridge, Mass.
    There have been a lot of solar flare carona activity lately, keep that in mind.

    Seriously, TIs are well made strings and no reason they would be prone to going out of tune more than any other string. Re-wrap the string around the post of the tuner to make sure there is no slack.
     
  6. Jul 18, 2013 #6
    bassbully

    bassbully Endorsed by The PHALEX CORN BASS..mmm...corn!

    Sep 7, 2006
    Blimp City USA
    Agree^ I think it was the heat and me playing hard.I was using a new rig only second time using and still dilaing in the tone but that IMO was not the issue.
     
  7. Jul 18, 2013 #7
    Dr Improbable

    Dr Improbable

    Apr 15, 2013
    Wisconsin
    I have a new chromatic tuner I've been using and I just noticed today it said "A 442" I'm like "***"??? So check that.
     
  8. Jul 18, 2013 #8
    bassbully

    bassbully Endorsed by The PHALEX CORN BASS..mmm...corn!

    Sep 7, 2006
    Blimp City USA
    I did the snark defaults back to 440 :eyebrow: So its not that. I will check it again..the BL is getting old ya know :p
     
  9. Jul 18, 2013 #9
    atomicdog

    atomicdog

    Jun 18, 2011
    TIs are low tension strings, right? That's been my experience. Thus, they are easily bent when played hard, so it's easy to see that others might hear them as "out of tune."
     
  10. Jul 18, 2013 #10
    FourBanger

    FourBanger

    Sep 2, 2012
    SE Como
    +1

    When I play that funny thing called a guitar I can't play light strings, I end up fretting chords out of tune and overbending every little note when I really get going.
     
  11. Jul 19, 2013 #11
    bassbully

    bassbully Endorsed by The PHALEX CORN BASS..mmm...corn!

    Sep 7, 2006
    Blimp City USA
    That is my thought also since the tuner is ok. I have had notes fart out some in the past while diggin hard up the neck but this was F# G in the first posisition and that is what had me puzzled.

    It was hot that night the strings might of relaxed more and I was playing pretty hard. I might restring it with Chromes but love the TI's on this bass and fear taking them off will damage them.
    That set is 5-6 years old and has been on at least 5 diff basses.
     
  12. Jul 19, 2013 #12
    Tom Howland

    Tom Howland

    Feb 11, 2003
    :cool:
    If there put on correct, and streached.
    There should be no problem. I have a 6 year old set that stays in tune fine. Weather is not an issue.
     
  13. Jul 19, 2013 #13
    PluckyThump

    PluckyThump

    Jan 4, 2008
    The Hammer
    Hmmm strange that other band members thought you were flat. If anything you would be pulling the notes sharp. What about pickup height? If the pickup is too high that can give you some odd overtones.

    I played a hot outdoor gig this month with a P and TI flats, all was well.
     
  14. Jul 19, 2013 #14
    9mmMike

    9mmMike Would you happen to have a cookie for me? Supporting Member

    Apr 25, 2008
    Wee bit west-o-Philly - SEPA
    A little late but.....this is where a second bass at the gig might be handy......
     
  15. Jul 19, 2013 #15
    u84six

    u84six Don't panic, the bass player is here! Supporting Member

    Nov 8, 2006
    US
    Whenever I play outside where there's a lot of humidity, my bass neck usually bows a little which will make the lower strings go more flat than the higher. And after tuning (which adds more tension on the neck), it will bow more.
     
  16. Jul 21, 2013 #16
    bassbully

    bassbully Endorsed by The PHALEX CORN BASS..mmm...corn!

    Sep 7, 2006
    Blimp City USA
    Went to a bass with chromes last night no issues and it was hot and humid. I'm just starting to think it was a weird unknown issue but thanks for the replies.
     
  17. Jul 21, 2013 #17
    basss

    basss Supporting Member

    Aug 27, 2001
    NY
    My guess is it's because the strings are 5-6 years old and have been on a number of different basses. Probably time to buy a new set. Strings can last a long time but not forever.