Is this normal ?

[LiveToWin]

My last tuner has just died (Boss TU80) so I bought new - TU3. I'm pretty satisfied with it and it's more accurate than my previous one. But there is still some weird thing happening ...

When I tune open string (Eb - the biggest one) the tuner first read it a bit sharp (1 cent) ,drops to pitch (tuner shows it's in tune) and then it shows a bit flat pitch (1cent). Sometimes tuning light are just fiddle around 1 cent. This is ONLY ON THIS ONE STRING. Fretting on 4,12 or any other frets shows the stable pitch.
I play with pick, but tuning with finger makes situation better and resulting stable readings.

Interesting thing is that when I tune using neck pickup with tone knob rolled off - pitch is much more stable !

My config is Rick 4003 and Dunlop 50-100 Stainless Steel strings. I previously used Rotosounds 66 (the same gauge) and this situation already persisted. When I used my old tu80 it was maybe a bit worse ...

 

[Kro]

Sounds to me that it's just going sharp from the attack, and then going flat as it decays and the string settles. This is natural, and more prone to happen on lower, floppier strings.

Have you tried tuning by the 12th fret harmonic? There should be very little shift from the attack if done that way.

Note, if your bass isn't well intoned, then tuning by 12th fret harmonic may not give the best results across the entire fretboard.

 

[LiveToWin]

Yup, using 12th fret harmonic gave tuner much stable reading.

Thank you very much for such fast response
Why this is even happening ? On rest strings (When I hit open string) the lights are indicating instantly "in pitch" ...
Damn, I feel that E string for bassist is the same PITA as G string for guitarist ...

 

[Kro]

Yup, using 12th fret harmonic gave tuner much stable reading.

Thank you very much for such fast response
Why this is even happening ? On rest strings (When I hit open string) the lights are indicating instantly "in pitch" ...
Damn, I feel that E string for bassist is the same PITA as G string for guitarist ...

Just out of curiosity, you noted Eb... is that the only string you have dropped, or are you a half step down on them all?

 

[LiveToWin]

All of them, I play in Eb tuning

I played guitar for about 6 years and then I switched to bass, so I know thing or two

 

[Kro]

Was just trying to see if there was any reason why that one might seem like such an outlier. The others probably experience this effect to some degree, it might just not be as noticeable. FWIW I notice it on all my basses, all strings if I tune with anything but the gentlest of attacks.

Lower tuning and more mass means that the lower strings have wider paths to travel when struck. This distance is what causes it to go sharp at attack.

You should see how prominent this effect can be even on a good B-string.

Also, as far as the tone control and bridge vs. neck pup thing you mentioned - this all makes perfect sense. Anything that reduces harmonic content that could potentially cloud your tuner's judgement will also improve its performance.

 

[bholder]

Also might want to read up on "setting the witness points" when installing strings - they'll seat themselves eventually, but doing this simple step can help new string tuning "lock in" quicker. Just another factor that can sometimes contribute to this sort of symptom.

 

[LiveToWin]

EDIT :
I've read about those "witness points" and voila ! Tuning on E string is now perfectly stable even on bridge pickup !

TB community is so nice !

 

[BassAndReeds]

Also might want to read up on "setting the witness points" when installing strings - they'll seat themselves eventually, but doing this simple step can help new string tuning "lock in" quicker. Just another factor that can sometimes contribute to this sort of symptom.

EDIT :
I've read about those "witness points" and voila ! Tuning on E string is now perfectly stable even on bridge pickup !

TB community is so nice !

Perfect advice from bholder.

If your open strings are changing pitch and you aren't adjusting them, then you need to make sure you've done two things:

1) stretch the strings

2) seat the strings in the bridge.

Scott's Bass Lessons has a good tutorial on this. I believe it's in a video about changing strings.