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Is this normal?

#61
paytojt said:
Yeah man first thing in the morning! Been a long day
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Besides the string, that the only thing I can think of that would directly effect the ring out in that way. Letting the strings properly set your neck adds so much. It still baffles me how it's like the only thing that's not done in the factory.

But, could just be the pressure wounds having a dud string. I had horrible luck with the E string on Silencers. 1 good pack out of 3. Even the pack SIT sent me when I let them know, had a dead E. Well, those are one strings I will never buy again. When the redemption pack is no good, the brand is no good. In my book.
 
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#63
paytojt said:
**Edit: it is. I was hoping it was the cause of an issue, which I recorded in post #55**So I just discovered after years that on my Dimension the low E goes at an angle to the right behind the nut. None of my other basses do this, and online pics of other Dimensions don't either. I'm wondering if this is why I've battled with strange overtones and dullness on the low E starting at about the 3rd fret, even after extensive trouble shooting like witness points, pickup height, etc.
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for me that is not normal .... there are only 4 strings ... there should be 5

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#64
I had to change the strings on a bass once because all the windings were near the headstock and the string exited to the nut almost completely flat from the top of the tuner post. Didn't that improve the sound!

I'm sure I'm just being dumb but maybe check the nut is actually down nice and flat on the neck along its full length. Also, it couldn't be a fret that isn't seated properly or a little lift of the fretboard? I agree with earlier comments; if you have a good luthier nearby give them a visit. Good luck and I look forward to hearing of a successful outcome.
 
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#65
I don't think the angle is bad, lots of basses have those by design even. Having said that, I believe you could press the string with your thumb in the right direction to flatten out that little curve it still has left after the string post. This was a tip a luthier once told me, and he is awesome with setups: always make sure that the strings don't bulge/curve over a hard edge, they should always have a hard angle. Like back at the bridge, after tuning the string I press the string down really hard just behind the rider, so that the string is perfectly flat between nut and bridge. If I don't they have an ever so slight bend/curve over the nut/bridge breakpoint. Same thing applies to the string post, especially with non-tapered thicker E-strings. You just push the string in a different direction :)

Despite all that, and making sure the pickup is far enough away, zero string twist, I've had a Mustang bass that just always had that chorus effect on the E string. I've tried various strings and eventually came across a Labella flatwound set that was created for short scale basses, and those worked.
 
#66
paytojt said:
**Edit: it is. I was hoping it was the cause of an issue, which I recorded in post #55**So I just discovered after years that on my Dimension the low E goes at an angle to the right behind the nut. None of my other basses do this, and online pics of other Dimensions don't either. I'm wondering if this is why I've battled with strange overtones and dullness on the low E starting at about the 3rd fret, even after extensive trouble shooting like witness points, pickup height, etc.
View attachment 4549208
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I strongly doubt your issue has to do with the angle of the string past the nut.

Just a guess, but it could be the string is twisted. There may be some contamination on the bridge where the ball end of the string rests. This could be some metal burr that got plated over, an intonation screw touching the ball, or anything that traps the ball and prevents it from spinning freely before the string gets wound tight. Twisted strings sound awful and they are easily fixed and hopefully the solution is as simple as that.

I hope you get it sorted out.

Edit: Another guess may be that the nut slot is not filed correctly, it should have a slight slope down toward the head stock.
 
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#67
paytojt said:
I'd be inclined to think number 2 or 3, but I checked and rechecked for twisting and it happens regardless of string. I have wondered if I can find a string brand that has a longer "thinner" part before the main string thickness reaches the post if that would help. Anyone know of any particular brands that have a longer thinner section than usual?
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Even that should not cause the problem you are experiencing. I have a short scale with an unconventional bridge which forces more of the fully wound part to wrap around the tuning peg (this can cause some flat wound strings to fail). Even that doesn't cause the problems described.

It is weird that the problem is consistent and focused to one location. Could be a neck issue like a buzzing truss rod?
 
#67
Gustopher said:
My jazz looks just like that, no known issues. I just normal buzzing from my A string not having a low enough break angle. I am thinking of getting a new 3 string retainer or one those that fits on the tuner and holds it low. Or I'll just stay cheap and keep using a grub gear mute thingy behind the nut.
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Next restringing, I'm leaving extra length on the 'A', so it'll sit lower on the post... at least on the Fenders.
 
#68
The hole for the E string tuner could be cut in about .020" - .030" to the left this would put that string parallel to the others but that would put it higher than the other tuners. I believe they may have sacrificed that slight angle through the nut to keep the tuners at a nice symmetrical angle. Just a guess.
 

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#69
Answer to question.........Yes. Or, it is quite common. Is that a 1.5 inch nut? Might be part of the reason.

Solution. You can reduce that angle by using a string set where the E sting tapers down at the silk. It will then wind closer to the tuner post and reduce that angle.

Also, you can take your fingers and pull on the E string in-between the post and nut and bend it over to the left as best as you can. But, be careful that you do not bust off the end of the nut. Perhaps bending with string tension down.

Best thing. Just live with it. I've never seen a Fender Bass where the stings are a perfect "straight pull"!
 
#77
paytojt said:
Funny you should say that. I've suspected it's the neck pickup because the problem goes away in other positions. I've got some on the way to test that theory.
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Yeah Dave's world of fun stuff is a YouTube channel where the Luther Dave, did a set up on one of these (beautiful bass btw, you are lucky to own one) but he mentioned they didn't run for very long and he wasn't sure why, but it did sound a little strange to my ears when he plays it.
 
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#78
Jason Bonilla said:
wow that's a beaut! not what I was expecting at all but a great looking bass nonetheless! neck looks real comfy and love body shape, looks pretty slim for a singlecut.
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Neck is a great playing one and the body is really compact. Generally I am not a fan of single cuts since they mostly look like a filled in double cut and I do not like that much body. With this one being slimmed down it has a totally different vibe.
 
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#80
I too suspect the pickups, if you can only hear the problem amplified, it's normally an electronics problem. Though you have to put your ear near the neck to recognize sting problems when playing unamplified. If the String is not correctly set in the nut you should hear some vibration, resonance or rattling, that is not present on the other strings.
 

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